(42.\.9 


KM  I 


PUNCTUATION 
SIMPLIFIED 

PRACTICAL  ADVICE 
12  AUTHORS^  HOWS 
CORRECT  PRINTERS' 
PROOFS 


T,  BRIDGES 


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OF  THE 
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PUNCTUATION 
SIMPLIFIED 

WITH  NUMEROUS  INTERESTING 
EXAMPLES. 

ALSO 

PEACTICAL  ADVICE  TO  AMATEUR  AU- 
THOKS;  INSTRUCTIONS  HOW  TO 
CORRECT  PRINTERS' 
PROOFS,  ETC. 


BY 

T.  BRIDGES. 


THE  SAALFIELD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY, 

Akron,  Ohio. 
-Chicago,  New  York. 


COPYRIGHT,  1907 
By  SAALFIELD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


4il-<) 


PREFACE. 


The  Author  of  this  Manual  has,  as  a  Cor- 
rector of  the  Press,  had  much  experience  in  the 
~  treatment  of  the  various  phases  of  Punctuation. 

•  -  The  subject  is  ' '  simplified 9  9  in  that  the  defini- 
tions and  rules,  while  strictly  based  on  the  prin- 
ciples  of  grammar  combined  with  rhetorical  con- 
siderations, are  stated  without  the  use  of  gram- 

'.    matical  terms  (such  as  noun,  pronoun,  verb, 

JL  etc.),  and  by  the  numerous  examples  given, 
which  examples  have  been  carefully  selected 

:  -  with  a  view  to  their  illustrating  the  rules,  and 
also  for  their  intrinsic  literary  or  other  inter- 
est. 

It  is  hoped  that  by  a  reasonable  study  of  this 
work  those  engaged  in  professions  or  in  business 
will  find  it  of  practical  value,  and  the  general 
public  be  enabled  to  make  their  correspondence 
clearer. 

The  Author's  acknowledgments  are  due  to 
Horace  Hart,  Esq.,  Printer  to  the  University  of 
.  Oxford,  for  permission  to  use  the  extracts  on 
pages  64  and  65,  treating  of  the  hyphen,  from 
his  concise  and  authoritative  "Rules  for  Com- 
"^positors  and  Readers/'  and  to  F.  T.  Larder, 
Esq.,  for  suggestions  after  careful  reading  of 
the  proofs. 


3 


PREFACE  TO  THE  THIRD  EDITION. 


In  less  than  a  year  from  its  first  publication  it 
has  become  necessary  to  issue  a  third  edition  of 
this  Manual. 

The  text  of  this  edition  is  practically  the  same 
as  that  of  the  first  and  second  editions,  but  there 
is  one  additional  page,  giving  instructions  how 
to  correct  printers'  proofs.  This  very  service- 
able page  is  taken,  by  permission  of  Messrs. 
Hazell,  Watson,  and  Viney,  Ltd.,  from  the  1900 
edition  of  " Hazell 's  Annual,"  a  work  which 
stands  in  the  first  rank  of  books  of  reference. 

The  Author  hopes  that  the  subject  of  Punc- 
tuation will  in  the  near  future  be  taught  sepa- 
rately in  the  more  advanced  classes  of  our 
schools,  since  the  present-day  commercial  re- 
quirements of  an  educational  system  manifestly 
demand  it. 


4 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FOURTH  EDITION. 

The  third  edition,  of  five  thousand  copies,  hav- 
ing been  exhausted  in  six  months,  this  fourth 
edition  is  now  issued.  In  it  there  are  two  de- 
tailed explanations  of  Rules  more  or  less  dis- 
putable (Rule  IV.,  p.  9),  on  the  use  of  the  comma 
after  the  number  of  an  address,  and  its  use  be- 
fore the  dash  (Rule  II.,  p.  51)  ;  an  important 
example  of  a  statement  previously  made,  as  to 
the  use  of  the  semi-colon,  but  not  formulated  as 
a  distinct  Rule  (Rule  II.,  p.  28)  ;  and  an  extra 
page,  taken,  by  permission  of  the  Editor,  from 
an  article  in  T.P.'s  Weekly,  giving  some  very 
sound  advice  to  amateur  authors. 


5 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/punctuationsimplOObrid 


PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED 

THE  COMMA. 

The  Comma  is  the  most  frequently  used  of  the 
points,  and  it  will  be  necessary  to  study  its  use 
in  full  detail. 

The  Comma  marks  the  smallest  division  in  a 
sentence,  and  usually  indicates  the  briefest  pause 
in  delivery. 

Rule  I. —  The  word  or  words  which  indicate 
the  person  addressed  must  be  separated  from  the 
rest  of  the  sentence  by  a  comma.    Examples: — 

Dear  Mother,  I  am  writing  to  let  you  know,  etc. 
John,  to  be  idle  is  the  most  ruinous  thing  in  the 
world. 

Morning  is  the  best  time  to  study,  my  son. 

The  whirl  of  London,  though  seemingly  chaotic,  is 

really  well  regulated,  Albert. 
I  think,  James,  you  have  not  tried  to  succeed. 
I  am  very  glad,  my  dear,  that  you  have  returned. 
Come,  companion  of  my  toils,  let  us  take  fresh 

courage. 

This,  my  lords,  is  a  perilous  and  tremendous  mo- 
ment. 

Sir,  the  declaration  will  inspire  the  people  with 

increased  courage. 
I  have,  Sir,  nothing  to  answer  to  your  protest. 
7 


8  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


I  am,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully. 
Thou  who  despisest  the  outward  form,  lose  not 
the  inward  spirit. 

Rule  II.— The  connecting  words  and  phrases 
below  in  italics,  and  others  of  a  similar  char- 
acter, are  followed  by  a  comma  when  they  com- 
mence a  sentence,  and  a  comma  is  placed  before 
and  after  them  when  they  are  used  between  sen- 
tences :  Again,  finally,  besides,  first,  firstly,  hence, 
however,  lastly,  moreover,  namely  {viz.),  nay, 
now,  then,  therefore,  thus,  too,  why,  well,  to  wit, 
indeed,  in  fact,  no  doubt,  of  course,  that  is  (i.  e.), 
in  short,  on  the  other  hand,  accordingly.  Ex- 
amples:— 

Again,  perfection  requires  that  each  quality  should 
be  without  debasing  alloy.—  Perfection  requires, 
again,  that  each  quality  should  be  without  de- 
basing alloy. 

Finally,  let  me  repeat  what  I  stated  at  the  begin- 
ning of  my  lecture.—  Let  me  repeat,  finally, 
what  I  stated  at  the  beginning  of  my  lecture. 

Besides,  it  may  be  of  the  greatest  advantage  to 
you.—  It  may,  besides,  be  of  the  greatest  advan- 
tage to  you. 

Why,  these  are  testimonies  of  what  the  unfriended 
may  do. 

In  fact,  there  was  such  a  scarcity  of  provisions 
that  death  from  starvation  threatened  the  be- 
sieged.— There  was  such  a  scarcity  of  provi- 
sions, in  fact,  that  death  from  starvation  threat- 
ened the  besieged. 

However,  he  soon  relinquished  his  fruitless  efforts. 


THE  COMMA. 


9 


—  He  soon,  however,  relinquished  his  fruitless 
efforts. 

Indeed,  his  disposition  was  not  genial.—  His  dis- 
position, indeed,  was  not  genial. 

To  Greece  we  are  indebted  for  the  three  principal 
orders  of  architecture,  viz.,  the  Doric,  the  Ionic, 
and  the  Corinthian. 

Rule  III. —  Such  words  as  however,  now,  then, 
too,  indeed,  are,  the  preceding  rule  notwithstand- 
ing, not  separated  by  a  comma  when  used  as  be- 
low.   Examples: — 

However  contrary  to  our  own,  we  must  pay  some 
deference  to  the  opinions  of  others. 

Now  I  repeat  my  arguments  in  favor  'of  the  doc- 
trine. 

Then  shall  I  know  even  as  also  I  am  known. 
We  look  at  all  things  too  exclusively  from  our 

own  point  of  view. 
It  is  indeed  beautiful !  —  J  ones  and  Smith  were 

players  indeed. 

Rule  IV. —  When  four  or  more  figures  are 
used,  a  comma  is  placed  before  every  three  from 
the  right  end.    Examples: — 

There  are  1,760  yards  in  a  mile. 

The  Rocky  Mountains  rise  12,500  feet  above  the 

level  of  the  ocean;  the  Andes,  21,440  feet. 
The  sun  is  883,210  miles  in  diameter,  about  2,774,- 

692  miles  in  circumference,  and  about  95,000,- 

000  miles  distant  from  the  earth. 


10  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


This  rule  does  not  apply  to  dates,  and  when 
round  numbers  are  used  without  comparison 
with  other  numbers  it  is  customary  to  put  them 
in  words.    Example: — 

The  population  of  China  in  1743  was  about  fifteen 
millions. 

A  comma  is  used  after  figures  which  precede 
the  name  of  a  street.  (This  is  a  much  disputed 
rule,  and  in  lists  and  non-literary  matter  the 
comma  is  for  convenience,  though  undesirably, 
often  omitted  after  the  figures  by  the  printer. 
Its  insertion  is,  however,  necessary  both  for  clear- 
ness of  indication  and  as  a  natural  breath-pause.) 
Examples : — 

Dr.  Smith  resided  at  16,  North  Street. 
The  offices  of  the  National  Music  Company  are 
at  72,  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago. 

Rule  V. —  The  comma  is  placed  before  a  quo- 
tation which  forms  a  sentence  in  itself.  Exam- 
ples:— 

There  is  much  in  the  proverb,  "Without  pains, 
no  gains." 

A  celebrated  modern  writer  says,  "  Take  care  of 
the  minutes,  and  the  hours  will  take  care  of 
themselves." 

But  when  the  words  quoted  run  straight  on 
with  the  words  introducing  them,  or  are  preceded 
by  that,  no  comma  should  be  used  before  the 
quotation.    Examples : — 


THE  COMMA. 


11 


Coleridge  said  he  had  the  habit  of  seeking  for  the 
"good  and  beautiful"  in  all  his  eye  beheld. 

Experience  of  life  teaches  us  that  "  it  is  a  great 
loss  to  lose  an  affliction." 

It  may  be  laid  down  as  an  unfailing  and  universal 
axiom  that  "  all  pride  is  abject  and  mean." 

A  comma  is  placed  before  an  expression  which 
resembles  a  quotation.    Examples  : — 

I  say  unto  all,  Watch. 

I  reply,  I  do  and  must  regard  heaven  as  a  world 
of  intercourse  and  sympathy. 

Rule  VI. —  "When  the  words  and,  or,  nor,  join 
two  other  words  in  close  connection,  no  comma  is 
used.    Examples: — 

Pay  supreme  and  undivided  homage  to  goodness 
and  truth. 

Virtue  or  vice  predominates  in  every  man  or 
woman. 

An  unjust  merchant  is  neither  loved  nor  respected. 

Rule  VII. —  When  the  same  words,  or  words  of 
practically  the  same  meaning,  are  not  joined  by 
and,  or,  nor,  etc.,  a  comma  is  used  between  them. 
Examples: — 

Lend,  lend  your  wings. 

Sound,  sound  the  tambourine!  Strike,  strike  the 
mandoline ! 

The  outward,  material  world  is  the  shadow  of  the 
spiritual. 

Never  was  beheld  a  child  fairer,  more  beautiful. 


12  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Rule  VIII. —  When  a  word  is  emphasized  by 
repetition,  or  amplified  as  in  the  three  conclud- 
ing examples  to  this  rule,  a  comma  is  placed  after 
both  the  first  and  second  words.    Examples: — 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you. 
On,  on,  when  honor  calls ! 
Rest,  rest,  perturbed  spirit! 

Thought,  thought,  is  the  fundamental  distinction 
of  mind. 

Reason,  virtue,  answer  one  great  aim. 
The  earth  is  filled  with  the  labors,  the  works,  of 
the  dead. 

The  world  that  is  outward,  material,  is  the  shadow 
of  that  which  is  spiritual. 

Rule  IX. —  The  comma  must  be  omitted  be- 
tween two  words  when  the  first  is  inseparable 
from  the  second  in  order  to  express  what  is 
usually  conveyed  by  one  word,  or  is  otherwise 
practically  part  of  the  second  word.  Exam- 
ples:— 

The  Emperor  possessed  a  beautiful  white  horse. 
The  part  was  remarkably  well  performed. 
The  poet  Milton  was  blind. 
He  himself  was  never  known  to  complain. 

Rule  X. —  When  a  series  of  words  of  the  same 
class  is  used  together,  a  comma  is  placed  between 
each.    Examples: — 

Industry,  honesty,  and  temperance  are  essential 
to  happiness. 


THE  COMMA. 


13 


Alfred  the  Great  was  a  brave,  pious,  and  patriotic 
prince. 

The  spirit  of  the  Almighty  is  within,  around,  and 
above  us. 

Rule  XI. —  When  the  first  of  a  series  of  three 
words  of  the  same  class  is  preceded  by  a  word 
which  applies  to  the  first  and  not  to  the  other 
words,  the  comma  is  omitted  between  the  second 
and  third  words.    Examples: — 

The  characteristics  of  his  mind  were  real  great- 
ness, strength  and  sagacity  {real  belonging  to 
greatness  only,  not  to  strength  and  sagacity). 

There  was  much  true  eloquence,  thought  and  in- 
spiration in  his  words  (true  belonging  to  elo- 
quence only,  not  to  thought  and  inspiration). 

Rule  XII. —  If  the  last  word  in  a  series  is  not 
joined  to  the  others  by  and,  or,  nor,  etc.,  and 
does  not  end  a  sentence,  a  comma  should  be 
placed  after  it.   Examples: — 

Reputation,  virtue,  happiness,  depend  greatly  on 

the  choice  of  companions. 
Ease,  indulgence,  luxury,  sloth,  are  the  sources  of 

misery. 

Rule  XIII.— -If  the  last  word  in  a  series  is 
joined  to  the  others  by  and,  or,  nor,  etc.,  and  does 
not  end  a  sentence,  no  comma  should  be  placed 
after  it.    Example^: — 

Eeputation,  virtue,  and  happiness  depend  greatly 
on  the  choice  of  companions. 


14         PUNCTUATION  SIMPJLIFlUiu. 


Ease,  indulgence,  luxury,  and  sloth  are  the  sources 
of  misery. 

Rule  XIV. —  In  cases  where  three  words  of  the 
same  class  are  placed  together,  but  do  not  form  a 
series,  the  word  "and"  coming  between  the  sec- 
ond and  third,  a  comma  is  placed  after  the  first 
word.    Examples: — 

In  Paradise,  Adam  and  Eve  reigned  supreme. 
In  reference  to  time,  hours  and  days  are  of  great 
importance. 

In  respect  to  eternity,  years  and  ages  are  noth- 
ing. 

According  to  the  Thomsonian  philosophy,  heat  and 
cold  are  antagonistic  identities. 

Rule  XV. —  When  groups  of  words  of  the  same 
class  are  connected  by  and,  or,  nor,  a  comma 
should  not  be  used  to  separate  them,  the  effect 
otherwise  being  stilted.    Examples: — 

Let  us  freely  drink  in  the  soul  of  love  and  beauty 
and  wisdom  from  all  nature  and  art  and  history. 

All  that  charms  the  eye  or  the  ear  or  the  imagina- 
tion or  the  heart  is  the  gift  of  God. 

Rule  XVI. —  A  comma  should  be  used  to  sepa- 
rate any  words  coupled  together  from  other  such 
coupled  words.    Examples: — 

A  Christian  spirit  may  be  manifested  to  Greek  or 
Jew,  male  or  female,  friend  or  foe. 

Sea  and  land,  heat  and  cold,  life  and  death,  are 
parts  of  the  same  great  scheme* 


THE  COMMA. 


15 


The  poor  and  rich,  the  weak  and  strong,  have  all 
one  Father. 

We  should  be  devout  and  humble,  cheerful  and 
serene. 

Rule  XVII. —  When  a  word  is  repeated  imme- 
diately after  its  first  use,  a  comma  should  be 
placed  between  the  words  repeated.  Exam- 
ples:— 

Whatever  is,  is  right. 

Who  does  nothing,  nothing  knows. 

Rule  XVIII. —  When  a  person  or  thing  re- 
ferred to  commences  a  sentence,  and  is  men- 
tioned again,  another  word  being  used  (He,  Soc- 
rates), at  the  close  or  in  the  closing  clause  of  a 
sentence,  a  comma  should  be  used  before  the  sec- 
ond mention.    Examples: — 

He  was  a  distinguished  philosopher,  Socrates. 
He  seemed  wanting  in  every  good  affection,  Nero. 
The  careless  poet  of  Avon,  was  he  troubled  for  his 
fame? 

He  groweth  rich,  that  fawning  and  supple  para- 
site. 

Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff,  they  comfort  me. 

Rule  XIX.— -Where  a  word  or  phrase  is  fol- 
lowed by  another  word  or  phrase  for  the  purpose 
of  description,  emphasis,  development,  contrast, 
or  explanation,  a  comma  is  placed  before  such 
addition,  and  also  after  it  if  the  sentence  is  un- 
finished.   Examples ; — 


16  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


The  butterfly,  child  of  the  summer,  (description) 
flutters  in  the  sun. 

Homer,  the  greatest  poet  of  antiquity,  (descrip- 
tion) is  said  to  have  been  blind. 

He,  and  he  only,  (emphasis)  is  worthy  of  our  su- 
preme affections. 

Poesy  is  love's  chosen  apostle,  and  the  very  almoner 
of  God  (development), 

Mahomet  was  a  native  of  Mecca,  a  city  in  Arabia 
(explanation) . 

The  wisest  of  the  Jewish  kings,  Solomon,  (expla- 
nation) became  a  fool. 

The  laverock,  or  lark,  (explanation)  is  distin- 
guished for  its  singing. 

Strong  proofs,  not  a  loud  voice,  (contrast)  pro- 
duce conviction. 

False  delicacy  is  affectation,  not  politeness  (con- 
trast). 

Rule  XX. —  The  comma  is  omitted  when  two 
contrasted  words  are  united  by  but,  though, 
yet,  as  well  as.    Examples: — 

Csesar  delivered  his  orations  in  elegant  but  pow- 
erful language. 

He  was  a  great  though  an  erring  man. 

Milton  burned  with  a  deep  yet  calm  love  of  moral 
grandeur. 

Hercules  had  the  strength  as  well  as  the  courage 
of  the  lion. 

Rule  XXI. —  The  above  rale  is  varied  when 
the  words  not  or  though  precede  words  con- 
nected by  but  or  yet,  and  a  comma  is  inserted. 
Examples: — 


THE  COMMA. 


17 


Not  beautiful,  but  graceful. 
Though  black,  yet  comely. 

Though  deep,  yet  clear;  though  gentle,  yet  not 
dull. 

Though  the  mills  of  God  grind  slowly,  yet  they 
grind  exceeding  small. 

Rule  XXII. —  If  a  sentence  which  is  complete 
in  itself  is  continued  by  an  explanatory  or  con- 
trasted clause,  joined  to  it  by  but,  for,  and,  etc., 
a  comma  is  used  to  separate  the  two  sections. 
Examples: — 

We  promise  according  to  our  hopes,  but  perform 

according  to  our  fears. 
Economy  is  no  disgrace,  for  it  is  better  to  live  on 

a  little  than  to  outlive  a  great  deal. 
A  good  conscience  is  a  continual  feast,  and  proves 

a  spring  of  joy  amidst  the  greatest  distresses. 

Rule  XXIII. —  Where  a  sentence  expresses  an 
uninterrupted  flow  of  thought,  no  comma  is  ad- 
missible in  any  part  of  it,  though  on  a  strict 
application  of  some  of  the  rules  relating  to 
phrases  modifying  or  illustrating  other  phrases 
a  comma  might  argumentatively  be  placed.  This 
is  an  important  rule,  the  non-intuitive  percep- 
tion of  which  in  practice  destroys  the  flow  and 
force  of  much  rhythmic  composition.  Exam- 
ples:— 

To  be  totally  indifferent  to  praise  or  censure  is  a 

real  defect  in  character. 
The  good  taste  of  the  present  age  has  not  allowed 


18  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


us  to  neglect  the  cultivation  of  the  English  lan- 
guage. 

In  exact  proportion  to  the  weight  of  the  truth  or 
the  grandeur  of  a  thought  was  the  degree  of 
punishment  meted  out  to  him. 

Past  history  is  full  of  the  pains  and  penalties 
visited  upon  the  individual  who  disturbed  the  es- 
tablished order  of  things  by  initiating  a  new 
truth  or  living  thought. 

This  deeper  silent  life  we  can  only  hope  to  discern 
and  influence  by  reaching  those  broad  decisive 
currents  of  the  thought  and  feeling  of  our  time 
which  carry  all  minor  issues  with  them. 

In  China  to  this  day  there  is  no  recognition  in 
their  national  worship  or  purely  indigenous  lit- 
erature of  what  our  theologians  call  the  sense 
of  sin. 

The  early  Celts  who  laid  the  foundations  of 
our  British  civilization  were  far  removed  by  na- 
ture and  by  political  education  from  the  vulgar 
type  of  barbarians  with  whom  the  slavish  fol- 
lowing of  Roman  and  ecclesiastical  tradition 
has  filled  both  our  learned  and  popular  histories. 

Rule  XXIV. —  The  use  or  non-use  of  the 
comma  before  who,  which,  and  that  is  a  source 
of  difficulty,  but  this  need  not  be  if  it  is  remem- 
bered that  the  comma  is  placed  before  who, 
which,  and  that  when  these  words  are  explana- 
tory of  or  additional  to  what  has  gone  before, 
and  omitted  when  they  are  merely  a  necessary 
part  of  the  preceding  word  to  indicate  the  pre- 
cise kind  meant.    Examples: — 


THE  COMMA. 


19 


The  child  was  attached  to  Jane,  who  loved  him 

dearly  (explanatory). 
Avoid  rudeness  of  manners,  which  must  hurt  the 

feelings  of  others  (explanatory). 
What  is  more  wonderful  than  the  human  eye,  that 

sees  all  around1?  (additional.) 

The  following  are  examples  showing  the  pre- 
cise kind  of  boy,  season,  and  actions  meant,  and 
therefore  not  requiring  the  comma  before  who, 
which,  and  that:  "a  boy  who  is  attentive/'  not 
any  boy;  "the  season  which  brings  our  affec- 
tions to  the  test, ' '  not  any  season ;  ' '  actions  that 
are  of  themselves  ungracious, ' '  not  any  actions. 

Every  teacher  must  love  a  boy  who  is  attentive 
and  docile. 

Death  is  the  season  which  brings  our  affections 
to  the  test. 

Urbanity  often  lends  a  grace  to  actions  that  are 
of  themselves  ungracious. 

Rule  XXV. —  The  same  rule  applies  to  clauses 
as  to  words,  those  inserted  as  explanatory  re- 
quiring the  comma  before  and  after  them,  and 
those  which  are  restricted  to  a  precise  definition 
of  words  which  would  otherwise  be  incomplete 
not  requiring  commas  either  before  or  after 
them.    Examples: — 

Macpherson,  who  has  given  us  some  highly  orig- 
inal images,  (explanatory)  spoils  half  his  work 
by  forgetting  that  his  bard  was  a  Gaul. 

Slaves  and  savages,  who  receive  no  education,  (ex- 
planatory) are  proverbially  indolent. 


20  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


The  memory  of  the  eyes  that  hung  over  a  man  in 
infancy  and  childhood  will  haunt  him  through 
all  his  after  life  (restrictive).—  ("  The  eyes  that 
hung  over,"  not  any  eyes,  and  therefore  no 
comma  before  or  after.) 

There  is  a  philosophic  spirit  which  is  far  more 
valuable  than  any  limited  acquirements  of  phi- 
losophy (restrictive). —  ("The  philosophic  spirit 
which  is  far  more  valuable,"  not  any  spirit.) 

Rule  XXVI.—  Parenthetical  phrases  and  short 
expressions  are  separated  by  commas  from  the 
other  portion  of  the  sentence.  Parenthetical 
phrases  are  parts  of  sentences  necessary  to  their 
full  meaning,  whereas  parentheses  (see  p.  47) 
are  capable  of  being  omitted  without  necessarily 
impairing  the  sense.    Examples: — 

The  sun,  with  all  its  attendant  planets,  is  but  a 
very  little  part  of  the  grand  machine  of  the  uni- 
verse. 

The  benevolent  and  pious  man,  even  when  perse- 
cuted, is,  on  the  whole,  a  happy  man. 

Books,  regarded  merely  as  a  gratification,  are 
worth  more  than  all  the  luxuries  on  earth. 

Study,  I  beseech  you,  to  store  your  minds  with  the 
exquisite  learning  of  former  ages. 

It  is  mind,  after  all,  which  does  the  work  of  the 
world. 

The  ship  leaps,  as  it  were,  from  billow  to  billow. 

Thou  knowest,  come  what  may,  that  the  light  of 
Truth  cannot  be  put  out. 

Simple  truths,  when  simply  explained,  are  more 
easily  comprehended,  I  believe,  than  is  com- 
monly supposed. 


THE  COMMA. 


21 


Rule  XXVII.— A  comma  is  inserted  after  a 
phrase  which  is  introductory  to,  or  explanatory 
of,  the  remainder  of  the  sentence.    Examples: — - 

Generally  speaking,  the  conduct  of  that  man  is 
honorable. 

Crowded  in  filth,  the  poor  cease  to  respect  one 
another. 

Cradled  in  the  camp,  Napoleon  was  the  darling  of 
his  army. 

Speaking  in  round  numbers,  he  made  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

Raising  his  head  from  the  earth,  man  looks  be- 
fore and  after. 

Rule  XXVIII. —  When  one  section  of  a  sen- 
tence relates  to  or  modifies  another  section,  and 
the  parts  are  closely  connected  in  sense,  a  comma 
is  not  necessary  between  the  two  sections.  Ex- 
amples:— 

Cultivate  your  intellectual  powers  by  habits  of 

study  and  reflection. 
The  idea  is  very  happily  applied  under  one  of 

its  forms. 

A  year  is  much  in  human  life  to  the  very  young 
and  very  old. 

But  the  comma  must  be  inserted  when  words 
which  break  the  direct  connection  (as  those 
printed  in  italics  in  the  examples)  are  introduced 
between  one  section  of  a  sentence  and  another. 
Examples : — 


22         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Cultivate  your  intellectual  powers,  especially  by 

habits  of  study  and  reflection. 
The  idea  is  very  happily  applied,  at  least  under 

one  of  its  forms. 
A  year  is  very  much  in  human  life,  particularly 

to  the  very  young  and  very  old. 

Rule  XXIX. —  When  a  sentence  is  inverted,  the 
inverted  portion  should  be  divided  by  a  comma 
from  what  would  otherwise  have  been  the  com- 
mencement of  the  sentence.  In  the  examples 
(1)  and  (2)  is  shown  in  italics  what  is  meant  by 
an  inverted  sentence,  with  the  comma  properly 
placed.    Examples : — 

(1)  Old  age  presents  a  scene  of  tranquil  enjoy- 
ment to  the  wise  and  good.— To  the  wise  and 
good,  old  age  presents  a  scene  of  tranquil  en- 
joyment. 

(2)  Sight  is  the  most  perfect  and  delightful  of 
all  our  senses.— Of  all  our  senses,  sight  is  the 
most  perfect  and  delightful. 

It  is,  however,  not  necessary  to  insert  a  comma 
between  brief  inverted  phrases  where  no  ob- 
scurity of  sense  is  created  by  its  omission.  Ex- 
amples:— 

(1)  Humanity  is  built  on  pity.—  On  pity  human- 
ity is  built. 

(2)  The  mind  is  peculiarly  ductile  in  infancy.' — 
In  infancy  the  mind  is  peculiarly  ductile. 

Rule  XXX. —  When  one  part  of  a  phrase  is 
dependent  on  another  part  for  its  completion, 


THE  COMMA. 


23 


the  two  parts  are  separated  by  a  comma.  The 
first  part  of  such  phrases  usually  implies  a  con- 
dition, or  limitation  or  expansion  of  idea. 
Examples: — 

Since  none  enjoy  all  blessings,  be  content  with  a 
few. 

Andrew  went  to   California,   where  he  does  a 

flourishing  business. 
Make  up  your  mind  to  do  a  thing,  and  you  will 

do  it. 

Fill  thy  heart  with  goodness,  and  thou  wilt  find 

that  the  world  is  full  of  good. 
When  pride  cometh,  then  cometh  shame. 

Rule  XXXI. — 'When  two  related  expressions 
are  united  by  as  or  than,  no  comma  is  used. 
Examples: — 

Men  are  never  so  easily  deceived  as  when  they 

plot  to  deceive. 
Do  not  spend  more  time  in  bed  than  is  required 

for  sleep. 

Rule  XXXII —  But  when  any  other  word  than 
as  or  than  unites  two  such  related  expressions,  a 
comma  is  used.    Examples: — 

If  you  know  that  your  object  is  good,  then  with- 
out hesitation  seek  it. 

Though  Truth  is  fearless  and  absolute,  yet  she  is 
meek  and  modest. 

Such  as  the  tree  is,  such  will  be  the  fruit. 


24         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Rule  XXXIII. —  When  two  or  more  phrases 
or  clauses  are  complementary  to  each  other,  a 
comma  is  used  between  each  phrase,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  last  phrase  if  the  sentence  is  not 
completed.    Examples : — 

Suffering  often  calls  forth  our  best  feelings,  and 
the  highest  energies  of  the  mind. 

Speak  as  you  mean,  do  as  you  profess,  and  per- 
form what  you  promise. 

Regret  for  the  past,  grief  at  the  present,  and  anx- 
iety respecting  the  future,  are  plagues  which 
affect  the  generality  of  men. 

Rule  XXXIV. —  In  a  compound  sentence, 
words  that  are  understood,  but  omitted,  should 
be  represented  by  a  comma.    Examples: — 

The  benevolent  man  is  esteemed;  the  pernicious, 
condemned. 

The  young  are  slaves  to  novelty;  the  old,  to  cus- 
tom. 

But  when  short  clauses  are  joined  by  and, 
or,  nor,  but,  or  when  a  series  of  clauses  is  given, 
the  comma  should  be  omitted  where  the  word  is 
understood,  and  a  comma  be  inserted  after  the 
first  clause.    Examples: — 

Life  is  precarious,  and  death  certain. 

Concession  is  no  humiliation,  nor  admission  of 

error  any  disgrace. 
Mathematicians  have  sought  knowledge  in  figures, 


THE  COMMA. 


25 


philosophers  in  systems,  logicians  in  subtleties, 
and  metaphysicians  in  sounds. 
Some  men  are  eminent  for  what  they  possess,  some 
for  what  they  achieve,  and  others  for  what  they 
are. 

Note.— In  Rules  XIX.,  and  XXIV.  and 
XXV.  the  words  6  £  contrast, ' '  ' 6  description/ ? 
' ' development, ' '  "  explanatory, ' '  etc.,  printed  in 
italics,  are  placed  in  parenthesis  before  the 
comma  when  the  comma  is  necessary  to  the  par- 
ticular phase  of  the  Rule.  The  use  of  the  comma 
before  a  parenthesis  or  dash  depends  on  whether 
the  comma  belongs  to  the  preceding  clause  irre- 
spective of  the  introduction  of  the  parenthesis  or 
dash. 


V 


THE  SEMI-COLON. 

The  Semi-Colon  [ ;]  is  a  point  which  is  used 
when  one  part  of  a  sentence  is  not  quite  so 
closely  related  to  the  other  part  as  when  a 
comma  is  used.  It  may  be  said  to  indicate  a 
slight  development  of  the  original  thought.  Its 
use  must  therefore  depend  on  whether  or  not 
the  character  of  the  composition — philosophic, 
scientific,  or  purely  literary — requires  nice  dis- 
tinction in  order  to  bring  out  the  full  meaning 
of  the  writer  (see  Rule  II.).  In  philosophic 
and  scientific  works  it  is  generally  necessary  to 
use  the  semi-colon  where  a  comma  would  be 
used  in  ordinary  composition.  The  rules  given 
here  show  its  more  general  use,  though  its 
stricter  application  has  not  been  lost  sight  of. 

Rule  I. —  Short,  but  slightly  connected,  com- 
plete sentences  should  be  separated  by  a  semi- 
colon.  Examples: — 

.  We  love  liberty ;  we  glory  in  the  rights  of  men ; 
we  glory  in  independence. 
-There  is  good  for  the  good;  there  is  victory  for 
the  valiant;  there  is  spirituality  for  the  spir- 
itual. 

The  epic  poem  recites  the  exploits  of  a  hero; 
tragedy  reptesents  a  disastrous  event;  comedy 
27 


28  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


ridicules  the  vices  and  follies  of  mankind;  pas- 
toral poetry  describes  rural  life;  and  elegy  dis- 
plays the  tender  emotions  of  the  heart. 

Rule  II. —  When  it  is  desired  to  indicate  more 
emphatically  the  various  statements  in  a  sen- 
tence otherwise  capable  of  being  separated  by 
the  use  of  a  comma,  a  semi-colon  is  used. 
Example : — 

"  These  thirty-seven  volumes,"  says  Mr.  Freder- 
ick Harrison  in  his  notice  of  "  The  Complete 
Ruskin,"  "  contain  enough  teaching  about  build- 
ings to  equip  a  leading  authority  in  Architec- 
ture; enough  teaching  about  Painting  to  found 
a  school;  enough  material  to  base  a  general  his- 
tory of  Art;  enough  history  to  give  a  new  read- 
ing to  the  Middle  Ages;  enough  about  Poetry  to 
make  a  master  in  criticism;  enough  of  Economy 
to  create  a  special  type  of  Socialism;  enough 
verse  to  rival  an  average  minor  poet;  enough  of 
perfect  prose  to  place  him  beside  Bacon  and 
Burke  for  his  inimitable  style." 

Rule  III.— When  a  sentence  is  otherwise  com- 
plete in  itself,  and  an  addition  in  the  nature  of 
an  afterthought,  or  an  expansion  or  sequence  of 
the  primary  statement,  is  made  to  it,  a  semi- 
colon is  used  between  such  sentence  and  the 
addition.  Examples: — 
j 

It  is  the  first  point  of  wisdom  to  ward  off  evils; 

the  second,  to  make  them  beneficial. 
The  noblest  prophets  and  apostles  have  been  chil- 


THE  SEMI-COLON. 


dren  once;  lisping  the  speech,  laughing  the 
laugh,  thinking  the  thought,  of  boyhood. 
So,  also,  we  play  with  the  words  of  the  dead  that 
would  teach  us,  and  strike  them  far  from  us 
with  our  bitter,  reckless  will;  little  thinking  that 
those  leaves  which  the  wind  scatters  had  been 
piled,  not  only  upon  a  gravestone,  but  upon 
the  seal  of  an  enchanted  vault. 

Rule  IV. —  "When  sections  of  a  sentence  are 
divided  by  a  comma,  a  semi-colon  is  placed  be- 
tween each  section.  Examples: — 

In  a  lawyer's  hands  we  trust  only  our  property, 
but  that  is  an  important  trust;  in  a  physician's, 
a  far  more  important  trust,  our  lives. 

In  the  hope  of  a  dynasty,  Napoleon  upheld  the 
Crescent;  for  the  sake  of  a  divorce,  he  bowed 
before  the  Cross;  the  orphan  of  St.  Louis,  he 
became  the  adopted  child  of  the  Republic;  and, 
with  a  parricidal  ingratitude,  on  the  ruins  both 
of  the  Crown  and  the  Tribune  he  reared  the 
throne  of  his  despotism. 

Note.— A  semi-colon  is  sometimes  placed  be- 
fore viz.,  i.e.,  to  wit,  when  they  precede  details 
of  statement,  as,  for  example,  ' 1  Some  men  dis- 
tinguish the  period  of  the  world  into  four  ages ; 
viz.,  the  golden  age,  the  silver  age,  the  bronze 
age,  and  the  iron  age. "  But  the  use  of  the 
semi-colon  in  such  cases  is  not  recommended. 


1 


THE  COLON. 


The  Colon  [ :]  is  used  when  the  part  which 
follows  it  has  but  a  remote  connection  with  the 
part  which  precedes  it,  and  yet  is  sufficiently  a 
portion  of  the  whole  as  not  to  justify  its  entire 
separation  by  the  use  of  a  full  point.  The  colon 
is  seldom  used  in  ordinary  composition  except 
before  an  enumeration  of  details,  but  in  dis- 
tinctly literary  and  philosophic  works  its  use  is 
frequent  and  effective. 

Rule  I. —  A  colon  is  used  when  a  complete 
clause  is  not  joined  by  for,  but,  and,  etc.,  to  an 
additional  clause  which  illustrates,  or  expands 
the  idea  of,  the  first  clause.  Examples: — 

Avoid  affectation:  it  is  a  contemptible  weakness. 
Endeavor  to  excel:  much  may  be  accomplished  by 
perseverance. 

Nor  was  the  religion  of  the  Greek  drama  a  mere 
form:  it  was  full  of  truth,  spirit,  and  power. 

Rule  II. —  A  colon  is  used  before  a  quotation 
unless  the  quotation  is  short  and  closely  con- 
nected with  the  words  preceding  it.  Exam- 
ples:— 

Silvio  Pellico,  in  his  excellent  work,  "  The  Duties 
of  Man/7  thus  remarks :  "  To  love  our  country 
31 


32  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


with  truly  elevated  feeling,  we  ought  to  begin 
by  supplying  it,  in  ourselves,  with  citizens  of 
whom  that  country  need  not  be  ashamed." 
Ruskin,  writing  on  the  subject  of  lying,  says :  "  Do 
not  let  us  lie  at  all.  Do  not  think  of  one  fal- 
sity as  harmless,  and  another  as  slight,  and  an- 
other as  unintended." 

An  example  of  a  short  quotation,  referred  to 
in  Eule  II.,  not  requiring  to  be  preceded  by  a 
colon,  is  as  follows: — 

In  reply  to  my  question  he  answered,  "  No." 

Rule  III. —  A  colon  is  used  before  a  definite 
statement,  or  a  course  of  reasoning,  as  distinct 
from  any  actual  quotation,  when  formally  in- 
troduced.   Examples : — 

Be  our  plain  answer  this:  We  will  not  submit  to 
arbitrary  dictation. 

Now,  pray,  remember  this:  Unmixed  carbonic  acid 
gas,  when  inhaled,  is  a  deadly  poison. 

When  the  love  of  fame  acts  upon  a  man  of  genius, 
the  case  appears  to  stand  thus:  The  generality 
of  the  world,  distinguished  by  the  name  of  read- 
ers, observe,  with  a  reluctance  not  unnatural,  a 
person  raising  himself  above  them. 

Rule  IV. —  A  colon  precedes  a  report  of  a 
sj.  eech  when  the  actual  words  of  the  speaker  are 
Uk£d.    Example : — 

IFhe  Chairman,  addressing  the  meeting,  said:  My 
lords,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  it  gives  me  great 


THE  COLON. 


33 


pleasure  to  bring  before  your  notice  the  cause 
we  all  have  so  much  at  heart. 

Rule  V. —  Numerical  statements,  lists  of  ar- 
ticles, and  enumeration  of  subjects,  are  preceded 
by  a  colon.    Examples: — 

In  1902  the  Registrar's  returns  for  England  and 
Wales  were:  Births,  940,509;  marriages,  261,- 
750;  deaths,  535,538. 

A  glance  round  the  room  showed  its  contents  to 
consist  of  the  following:  a  table,  two  chairs, 
a  couch,  and  a  few  miscellaneous  articles. 

Let  us  take,  in  illustration,  three  poets,  in  an  as- 
cending scale  of  intellectual  precedence:  Keats, 
the  representative  of  sensitiveness;  Byron,  of 
wilfulness:  Shakespeare,  of  self-direction. 

Rule  VI. —  The  part  of  a  sentence  introducing 
passages  which  are  sub-divided  by  commas  and 
semi-colons  is  followed  by  a  colon.  Examples: 

The  scene  before  him  was  grand  in  the  extreme: 
the  hills,  rock-ribbed,  and  ancient  as  the  sun; 
the  vales,  stretching  in  pensive  quietness  be- 
tween; the  venerable  woods;  rivers,  moving  in 
majesty;  the  complaining  brooks,  making  the 
meadows  green ;  and  around  all,  old  ocean's  grey 
and  melancholy  waste. 

To  him  who,  in  the  love  of  Nature,  holds  commune 
with  her  visible  forms,  she  speaks  a  various  lan- 
guage: for  his  gayer  hours,  she  has  a  voice  of 
gladness,  and  a  smile,  and  eloquence  of  beauty; 
and  she  glides  into  his  darker  musings  with  a 


34         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


mild  and  gentle  sympathy  that  steals  away  their 
sharpness  ere  he  is  aware. 

Rule  VII. —  When  sentences  comprising  pas- 
sages which  are  sub-divided  by  commas  and 
semi-colons  are  terminated  by  words  which  sum- 
marize or  contrast  the  preceding  portion,  a  colon 
is  used  before  such  terminating  words.  Ex- 
amples: — 

Everyone  must,  of  course,  think  his  own  opinions 
right ;  for  if  he  thought  them  wrong,  they  would 
no  longer  be  his  opinions :  but  there  is  a  wide 
difference  between  regarding  ourselves  as  infal- 
lible and  being  very  firmly  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  our  creed. 

The  poorest  artisan  in  Rome,  walking  in  Caesar's 
gardens,  had  the  same  pleasures  which  they  min- 
istered to  their  lord;  and  although,  it  may  be, 
he  was  put  to  gather  fruits  to  eat  from  another 
place,  yet  his  other  senses  were  delighted  equally 
with  Caesar's :  the  birds  made  him  as  good  music, 
the  flowers  gave  him  as  sweet  smells,  the  air  was 
as  good,  and  the  beauty  and  order  of  the  plaee 
as  delightful. 


THE  PERIOD,  OR  FULL  POINT. 


The  strictly  legitimate  use  of  a  period  or  full 
point  [.]  is  very  limited,  being  confined  to  the 
termination  of  a  complete  and  independent  sen- 
tence which  is  not  exclamative  or  interroga- 
tive. 

Rule  I. —  A  sentence  which  is  complete  in 
itself  is  usually  closed  with  a  full  point.  Ex- 
amples:— 

Truth  is  the  basis  of  every  virtue. 
The  right  is  the  supreme  good,  and  includes  all 
other  goods. 

This  calamity  is  peculiar  to  man.  The  inferior 
tribes  knew  nothing  of  it.  They  obey  the  laws 
of  their  life. 

Rule  II. —  A  full  point  is  used  after  abbrevia- 
tions of  words,  initials,  between  shillings  and 
^pence,  and  after  and  between  letters  of  the  al- 
phabet when  used  instead  of  numerals.  Be- 
fore decimals  the  full  point  is  inverted,  and  no 
point  is  used  between  the  two  capital  L's  in 
LL.D.  and  LL.B.    Examples: — 

Dr.  H.  Marsh,  F.R.S.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Peter- 
borough, b.  1757,  d.  1839. 

W.  H.  Marshall,  jun.,  Esq.,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  F.A.S., 
succeeded  his  father  on  his  retirement  from 
practice. 

35 


36  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


The  resolution  was  carried  nem.  con.  (nemine  con-' 
tradicente) . 

The  average  was  5 '3  in  one  case,  5*36  in  another , 

and  14*152  in  another. 
The  price  was  raised  from  13s.  4d.  to  15s.  10d., 

and  later  to  £1  2s.  6y2d. 
The  learned  divine  referred  to  Gen.  vi.  12,  13 ; 

Psalm  lxv.  2,  lxxviii.  39;  Acts  ii.  17,  and  1  Cor. 

i.  29. 

Edward  VII.  succeeded  to  the  throne  January 
22nd,  1901.  James  IV.  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Flodden. 

Julius  Caesar  invaded  Britain  B.C.  55  and  54.  The 
Roman  period  embraced  465  years,  from  B.C.  55 
to  A.D.  410. 

We  left  by  the  Grand  Central  through  express 
from  42nd  St.,  at  4.25  p.m.  and  arrived  at 
Poughkeepsie  at  6.23  p.m. 

The  sun  rose  at  4.26  a.m.  and  set  at  7.46  p.m. 

M.DCCC.LV.  (1855).  (Capital  letters  are  some- 
times used  for  figures  in  this  way  in  title-pages 
of  books  and  in  inscriptions.) 

Note. —  It  is  permissible  to  use  a  full  point 

between  two  parts  of  a  short  sentence,  joined 
by  but,  and,  etc.,  and  between  two  parts  of  a 
long  sentence  when  either  of  the  parts  can  be 
sub-divided.  Examples  of  the  use  of  the  full 
point  between  two  parts  of  a  short  sentence  are 
frequent  in  the  Bible,  and  examples  of  its  use 
between  long  sentences  are  to  be  met  with  in 
works  of  a  literary  and  philosophic  character; 
but  for  the  purposes  of  this  Manual  a  brief 
statement  as  to  its  use  in  these  respects,  since  it 


THE  PERIOD  OR  FULL  POINT.  37 


is  not  general  and  depends  largely  on  the  au- 
thor, is  deemed  sufficient.  The  use  of  the  full 
point  in  title-pages,  catalogues,  head-lines,  etc., 
is  also  not  detailed  here,  since  it  varies  in  dif- 
ferent printing-houses. 


V 


THE  INTERROGATION. 

The  Note  of  Interrogation  [?]  indicates 
that  a  question  is  asked,  though  a  reply  may  not 
be  necessarily  expected. 

Rule  I. —  The  interrogation  is  placed  at  the 
end  of  a  question,  and  usually  terminates  the 
sentence  in  the  same  way  as  the  full  point. 
Examples: — 

What  time  is  it?  Are  you  going1?  Do  you  think 
so? 

Who  can  look  only  at  the  muscles  of  the  hand,  and 
doubt  that  man  was  made  to  work? 

There  is  much  in  him  that  is  commendable,  is 
there  not? 

Rule  II. —  When  it  is  stated  that  a  question 
has  been  asked,  or  an  enquiry  is  made  which  is 
not  in  its  construction  a  direct  question,  the  note 
of  interrogation  should  not  be  used.  Examples: 

I  was  asked  if  I  would  stay. 

I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  inform  me  whether  I 

am  right  in  my  surmise. 
The  question  is  not  what  we  might  actually  wish 

with  our  present  views,  but  what  with  juster 

views  we  ought  to  wish. 

39 


40         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Rule  III. —  Sometimes  a  question  is  interroga- 
tive in  sense  though  assertive  in  construction, 
but  in  such  cases  a  note  of  interrogation  is  used. 
Examples: — 

"You  will  stop  to  dinner?"  "You  are  an  Irish- 
man ?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  I  can  do  for  you  ? 99 
"You  are  not  a  teetotaller?" 

The  Phoenicians  invented  letters,  but  what  did  they 
do  with  them?  Apply  them  to  the  record,  the 
diffusion,  transmission  and  preservation  of 
knowledge  ? 

Rule  IV. —  When  several  successive  questions, 
though  connected  in  sense,  are  distinct  in  con- 
struction, a  note  of  interrogation  should  be 
placed  after  each  such  distinct  question.  Exam- 
ples:— 

What  glow  is  on  thy  face?  what  sudden  light? 
"  Are  there  not  seasons  of  spring  in  the  moral 

world?  and  is  not  the  present  age  one  of  them?" 
"  What  is  civilization  ?    Where  is  it  ?    What  does 

it  consist  in?    By  what  sign  is  it  known?  In 

short,  what  does  it  mean  ?  " 

Rule  V. —  When  successive  questions  are  de- 
pendent on  each  other  for  completion  of  what  is 
really  one  sub-divided  question,  a  note  of  inter- 
rogation is  placed  at  the  end  only,  and  not  also 
between  the  parts  as  in  the  previous  rule. — 
Example : — 


THE  INTERROGATION.  41 


Whither  now  are  fled  those  dreams  of  greatness; 
those  busy,  bustling  days;  those  gay-spent,  fes- 
tive nights;  those  veering  thoughts,  lost  between 
good  and  ill,  that  shared  thy  life'? 

Rule  VI. —  When  a  question  concludes  with 
some  words  which  are  quoted,  but  which  words 
are  not  in  themselves  interrogative,  the  note  of 
interrogation  must  be  placed  outside  the  marks 
of  quotation.    Examples: — 

Even  to  the  plain,  ordinary  denizens  of  this  world, 
what  can  be  more  interesting  than  u  the  passing 
crowd  99  ? 

Greece,  indeed,  fell;  but  how  did  she  fall?  Did 
she  fall  like  Babylon?  Did  she  fall  "like  Lu- 
cifer, never  to  hope  again  99  ? 

I  ask  the  hon.  member,  does  he  mean  to  imply  that 
our  party  is  vanishing  "  like  pale  ghosts  "  ?  If 
so,  I  ask  him,  in  the  words  of  Hamlet,  "  Whither 
wilt  thou  lead  me?"  [Note.— In  this  example 
the  last  question  is  embraced  in  the  quotation, 
and  therefore  the  note  of  interrogation  goes 
within  the  quotation  marks.] 

Rule  VII. —  When  a  long  quotation  is  intro- 
duced by  a  question,  the  note  of  interrogation 
should  be  placed  before  the  quotation;  but 
where  the  quotation  is  so  short  that  the  fact  of 
its  being  introduced  by  a  question  is  not  likely 
to  be  lost  sight  of,  it  is  better  to  precede  the 
quotation  by  a  colon  and  place  the  note  of  in- 
terrogation at  the  end  of,  and  outside,  the  marks 
of  quotation.    Examples: — 


42  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Who  will  deny  the  force  of  this  passage  from  Rus- 
kin  ?  u  And  seeing  that,  of  all  sin,  there  is,  per- 
haps, no  one  more  flatly  opposite  to  the  Al- 
mighty, no  one  more  wanting  the  good  of  virtue 
and  of  being,  than  this  of  lying,  it  is  surely  a 
strange  insolence  to  fall  into  the  foulness  of  it 
on  light  or  no  temptation."  (Example  where 
the  interrogation  precedes  the  quotation.) 

Do  you  think  this  proverb  is  as  applicable  to-day 
as  it  was  in  J ob's  time :  "  Cast  thy  bread  upon 
the  waters,  for  thou  shalt  find  it  after  many 
days 99  ?  (Example  where  the  interrogation  fol- 
lows the  quotation.) 


THE  EXCLAMATION. 

The  Exclamation  [ !]  denotes  admiration, 
surprise,  emotion,  passion,  etc.  Its  proper  use 
is  very  effective  in  certain  styles  of  composi- 
tion, but  there  is  a  general  tendency  to  use  it 
too  freely. 

Rule  I. —  The  note  of  exclamation  is  placed 
after  the  word  or  words  constituting  a  form  of 
address  when  preceded  by  O.    Examples: — 

Tremble,  0  man!  whoever  thou  art. 
0  Freedom!  thou  art  not,  as  poets  dream,  a  fair 
young  girl. 

0  Shakespeare  and  Nature!  which  of  you  copied 

your  pieces  from  the  other's  works'? 
0  sacred,  wise,  and  wisdom-giving  plant,  mother 

of  science!  now  I  feel  thy  power  within  me. 
The  heavens  and  earth,  0  Lord!  proclaim  Thy 

boundless  power. 
When,  0  my  countrymen!  will  you  begin  to  exert 

your  vigor? 

Rule  II. —  The  note  of  exclamation  is  used 
after  oh,  ah,  alas,  what,  and  similar  emotional 
expressions.    Examples : — 

Oh!  you  are  wounded. 

Ah!  that  was  something  to  remember. 

43 


44         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Alas!  what  can  I  say? 
Alas!  those  happy  days  are  gone. 
What!  is  it  only  in  dreams  that  such  things  oc- 
cur? 

Rule  III. —  But  when  oh,  alas,  ah,  what,  how 
form  the  commencement  of  a  phrase  which  is 
exclamative  as  a  whole,  the  note  of  exclamation 
is  not  placed  after  the  word,  but  at  the  end  of 
the  phrase,  the  comma  being  placed  after  oh,  ah, 
alas,  or  omitted,  as  the  flow  of  the  phrase  sug- 
gests.   Examples: — 

Oh  the  grave!  the  grave! 

Oh  that  men  should  put  an  enemy  into  their 
mouths  to  steal  away  their  brains! 

Oh,  bloodiest  picture  in  the  book  of  time! 

Oh,  what  a  glorious  part  you  may  act  on  the  the- 
atre of  humanity! 

Ah  the  laborious  indolence  of  him  who  has  nothing 

•  to  do! 

Alas  for  the  man  who  has  not  learned  to  work! 
Alas  that  folly  and  falsehood  should  be  so  hard 

to  grapple  with ! 
Alas,  poor  Yorick !  —  Alas,  my  noble  boy ! 
What  a  piece  of  work  is  man ! 
What  noble  institutions!  what  a  comprehensive 

policy!  what  wise  equalization  of  every  political 

advantage ! 

How  dear  to  this  heart  are  the  scenes  of  my  child- 
hood ! 

How  beautiful  is  all  this  visible  world !  It  is  beau- 
tiful in  its  action  and  in  itself. 


THE  EXCLAMATION. 


45 


Rule  IV. —  Apart  from  exclamative  phrases 
which  are  commenced  by  the  words  dealt  with 
in  Rules  II.  and  III.,  a  note  of  exclamation 
should  be  used  at  the  conclusion  of  any  phrase 
or  sentence  which  is  really  exclamative  in  its 
nature.    Examples : — 

Behold  the  daughter  of  Innocence! 

Would  that  we  had  maintained  our  humble  state! 

Praise  to  the  men  for  whose  writings  I  am  the 

better  and  wiser! 
Impelled  by  some  innate  principle,  how  natural  it 

is  for  us  to  scan  the  face  in  search  of  those 

signs  which  so  readily  reveal  the  hidden  depths 

of  psychical  life ! 

Rule  V. —  When  impassioned  words  are  used, 
or  an  impassioned  speech  is  introduced  by  words 
of  address,  an  exclamation  should  be  used  after 
such  words.    Examples: — 

Up,  comrades,  up! 

Out,  out,  Lucetta !  —  Live,  live,  ye  incomparable 
pair! 

All  hail,  ye  patriots  brave! 
Rouse,  ye  Romans!  rouse,  ye  slaves! 
Charge,  Chester,  charge !  on,  Stanley,  on ! 
Friends,  countrymen,  and  lovers!  hear  me  for  my 
cause,  and  be  silent  that  you  may  hear. 

Rule  VI. —  A  note  of  exclamation  is  used  after 
ejaculatory  words.    Examples: — 


Bah !    Ugh !    Ha,  ha,  ha !    Fie,  fie,  fie ! 


46         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Rule  VII.— When  intense  expressions  or 
phrases  follow  each  other,  an  exclamation  is  used 
after  each.    Examples: — 

Daughter  of  Faith,  awake!  arise! 
The  secret  I  implore:  out  with  it!  speak!  discover! 
utter ! 

Rule  VIII. —  The  placing  of  the  note  of  ex- 
clamation within  or  without  quotation  marks 
follows  the  same  plan  as  that  stated  for  the  Note 
of  Interrogation,  Rule  VI.  (p.  41),  which  is, 
briefly,  that  when  the  exclamation  belongs  to  the 
words  quoted,  and  not  to  the  words  which 
introduce  the  quotation,  the  exclamation  goes 
inside  the  last  quotation  mark;  and  when  the 
exclamation  belongs  to  the  words  which  intro- 
duce the  quotation,  and  not  to  the  words  which 
are  quoted,  the  note  of  exclamation  is  placed 
outside  the  last  quotation  marks.  Examples: 

And  heart-stricken  we  cry,  "  Oh  that  those  lips 
had  language ! " 

At  such  a  sight  we  involuntary  exclaim,  "  How 
mysterious  are  the  ways  of  Providence ! 99 

Think  of  the  ills  "  which  flesh  is  heir  to  "  ! 
"  It  is  perfectly  allowable,"  says  Lord  Suffolk, 
"  to  use  all  the  means  that  God  and  nature  have 
put  into  our  hands  "  !  My  Lords,  we  are  called 
upon  to  protest  against  such  horrible  barbarity! 
"  That  God  and  nature  have  put  into  our 
hands"  !  What  ideas  of  God  and  nature  that 
noble  lord  may  entertain,  I  know  not. 


MARKS  OF  PARENTHESIS. 


Marks  of  Parenthesis  (  )  are  used  to  enclose 
words  which  are  placed  in  a  sentence  to  explain 
or  illustrate  it,  but  which  words  can  be  omitted 
without  impairing  the  completeness  of  the  sen- 
tence otherwise.  They  should  only  be  used 
when  the  words  which  they  enclose  are  distinctly 
separate  in  sense  or  construction  from  the  sen- 
tence, more  closely  connected  interpolations  be- 
ing sufficiently  indicated  by  the  use  of  commas. 

Rule  I. —  When  a  person  is  referred  to  by  a 
description  or  title,  and  his  name  is  given  after 
such  description  or  title,  the  name  is  placed  be- 
tween marks  of  parenthesis.    Examples: — 

The  gentleman  who  has  just  addressed  you  (Mr. 
Jackson)  has  left  me  little  to  say. 

The  words  used  by  the  late  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury (Dr.  Temple)  have  been  often  quoted. 

Rule  II. —  When  in  a  simple  sentence  a  state- 
ment is  made  which  is  an  interpolation,  the 
statement  is  enclosed  within  marks  of  paren- 
thesis.   Examples : — 

"Are  you  still  (I  fear  you  are)  far  from  being 

completely  settled  ?  " 
If  we  exercise  right  principles  (and  we  cannot 
47 


48  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


have  them  unless  we  exercise  them),  they  must 
be  perpetually  on  the  increase. 
The  finest  images  which  Joseph  Hall  conjures 
up  (and  many  of  them  are  wonderfully  fine) 
never  displace  the  great  truths  for  the  sake  of 
which  they  are  admitted. 

Rule  III. —  When  an  incidental  remark,  en- 
quiry, or  exclamation  is  thrown  in,  such  remark, 
enquiry,  or  exclamation  should  be  enclosed  by 
marks  of  parenthesis.    Examples: — 

Pleasure  (whene'er  she  sings,  at  least)  ?s  a  siren. 

Left  now  to  himself  (malice  could  not  wish  him  a 
worse  admirer),  he  resolves  on  a  desperate  pro- 
ject. 

Know,  then,  this  truth  (enough  for  man  to  know)  : 

Virtue  alone  is  happiness. 
While  they  wish  to  please  (and  why  should  they 

not  wish  it*?),  they  disdain  dishonorable  means. 
The  rocks  (hard-hearted  varlets!)  melted  not  into 

tears. 

Consider  (and  may  the  consideration  sink  deep 
into  your  hearts!)  the  fatal  consequences  of  a 
wicked  life. 

Not  a  few  are  the  incitements  of  the  working 
classes  (would  they  were  greater!)  to  the  ac- 
cumulation of  property. 

Rule  IV. —  When  an  explanatory  reference  is 
made  in  a  statement  it  is  enclosed  in  marks  of 
parenthesis.    Examples : — 

In  the  passage  quoted  (vol.  i.,  p.  29)  the  author's 
meaning  is  quite  clear  to  one  of  ordinary  intel- 
ligence. 


MARKS  OF  PARENTHESIS.  49 


When  Saul  was  most  energetic  against  the  disci- 
ples (Acts  ix.  1,  2),  the  turning-point  in  his  life 
was  at  hand. 

The  Egyptian  style  of  architecture  (see  Dr.  Po- 
cock;  not  his  discourses,  but  his  prints)  was  ap- 
parently the  mother  of  the  Greek. 

Rule  V. —  Sometimes,  though  rarely,  a  paren- 
thetical explanation  or  statement  is  made  at  the 
end  of  a  sentence,  when  marks  of  parenthesis 
are  used  to  close  the  sentence.    Examples: — 

The  air  was  mild  as  Summer,  all  corn  was  off  the 
ground,  and  the  sky-larks  were  singing  aloud 
(by  the  way,  I  saw  not  one  at  Keswick,  perhaps 
because  the  place  abounds  in  birds  of  prey). 

The  next  day  we  were  shown  over  the  building  by 
Mr.  Jones  (he  has  full  power  in  the  absence  of 
the  manager).    It  was  an  interesting  visit. 

Rule  VI. —  Sometimes  a  whole  sentence,  or 
more  than  one  sentence,  is  parenthetical,  and 
should  be  commenced  with  a  capital  letter  and 
enclosed  in  parentheses,  including  a  final  point. 
Example: — 

A  certain  man  was  sick,  named  Lazarus,  of  Beth- 
any, the  town  of  Mary  and  her  sister  Martha. 
(It  was  that  Mary  which  anointed  the  Lord 
with  ointment,  and  wiped  His  feet  with  her  hair, 
whose  brother  Lazarus  was  sick.) 

A  further  example  of  this  Eule  is  given  on 
p.  10,  lines  8  to  14. 


THE  DASH. 


The  Dash  [ — ]  is  chiefly  used  when  the  con- 
struction of  a  sentence  indicates  an  abrupt 
breaking  off  from  the  original  train  of  thought. 
Like  the  notes  of  interrogation  and  exclama- 
tion, the  dash  is  very  effective  when  used  with 
discrimination,  but  its  too  free  use  is  mislead- 
ing and  unsightly. 

Rule  I. —  When  there  is  an  unexpected  turn 
given  to  a  sentence  the  dash  is  used.  Exam- 
ples:— 

He  sometimes  counsel  takes  —  and  sometimes  snuff. 

Men  will  wrangle  for  religion,  write  for  it,  fight 
for  it,  but  —  not  live  for  it. 

You  have  given  the  command  to  a  person  of  il- 
lustrious birth,  of  ancient  family,  of  innumerable 
statues,  but  —  of  no  experience. 

The  people  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  blessed  the 
good  St.  Nicholas;  and,  from  that  time  forth, 
the  sage  Van  Kortland  was  held  in  more  honor 
than  ever,  and  was  pronounced  a  most  useful 
citizen  and  a  right  good  man  —  when  he  was 
asleep. 

Rule  II.— -When  the  first  part  of  a  sentence 
is  followed  by  words  which  give  an  elocutionary 
character  to  the  whole,  a  dash  is  used  between 
51 


52  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


the  introductory  words  and  the  others.  The 
comma  is  also  retained  before  the  dash  when,  as 
in  the  first  and  third  examples  following,  it 
would  be  used  whether  the  dash  were  used  also 
or  not.    Examples: — 

Greece,  Carthage,  Rome,— where  are  they?  The 
pages  of  history  —  how  is  it  that  they  are  so 
dark  and  sad? 

Then  the  eye  of  a  child  —  who  can  look  unmoved 
into  that  u  well  undefiled "  in  which  heaven  it- 
self seems  to  be  reflected? 

Leonidas,  Cato,  Phocion,  Tell,—  one  peculiarity 
marks  them  all:  they  dared  and  suffered  for 
their  native  land. 

Rule  III. —  "When  a  sentence  is  abruptly 
broken  off,  the  dash  is  used  at  the  part  where 
the  break  occurs.    Examples: — 

Was  there  ever  a  bolder  captain  of  a  more  valiant 
band?    Was  there  ever  —  but  I  scorn  to  boast. 

Hast  thou  —  but  how  shall  I  ask  a  question  which 
must  bring  tears  into  so  many  eyes? 

Thou  dost  not  mean  —  no,  no ;  thou  wouldst  not 
have  me  make  a  trial  of  skill  upon  my  child! 

Rule  IV.— When  a  person  speaking  is  inter- 
rupted by  another  person,  a  dash  is  placed  where 
the  interruption  occurs,  though  the  dash  used 
in  such  cases  is  generally  twice  the  length  of  the 
ordinary  dash.    Examples: — 


"I  forgot  my  — * — "  "Your  umbrella?"  hastily 
interrupted  Janet. 


THE  DASH. 


53 


"  Please,  your  honor/'  quoth  Trim,  "  the  Inquisi- 
tion is  the  vilest   ■ "  "  Prithee,  spare  thy 

description,  Trim;  I  hate  the  very  name  of  it," 
said  my  father. 

Rule  V. —  A  double  length  dash  is  used  when 
a  name  or  a  word  is  omitted  or  suggested  but 
not  given.    Examples: — 

The  party  consisted  of  Lord  H  — — ,  Captain 

C   ,  and  Mr.  G   . 

As  the  card  was  handed  to  Mrs.  — ■ — ,  she  said, 

"  John,  what  did  you  say  to  the  lady  t 99 
He  used  such  61  swear  words  "  as  d  — • — ,  etc. 

Rule  VI. —  The  double-length  dash  is  used 
when  two  or  more  sentences  or  clauses  lead  up 
to  a  termination  which  is  of  a  strongly  expres- 
sive or  pathetic  character.    Examples: — 

Frankness,  suavity,  tenderness,  benevolence, 
breathed  through  their  exercise.    And  his  family 

 But  he  is  gone:  that  noble  heart  beats  no 

more. 

In  thirty  years  the  western  breeze  had  not  fanned 
his  blood:  he  had  seen  no  sun,  no  moon,  in  all 
that  time;  nor  had  the  voice  of  friend  or  kins- 
man breathed  through  his  lattice.    His  children 

  but  here  my  breast  began  to  bleed,  and  I 

was  forced  to  go  on  with  another  part  of  the 
portrait. 

Rule  VII. —  When  ejaculatory  words  are  used 
a  dash  separates  them  from  the  other  words. 
Examples: — 


54         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


With  one  hand  the  monster  grasps  his  knife,  and 
with  the  other  —  ah,  cousin !  —  with  the  other 
he  seized  —  a  ham. 

I  take  —  eh !  oh !  —  as  much  exercise  —  eh !  —  as 
I  can,  Madame  Gout. 

Eule  VIII. —  The  dash  is  used  before  a  word 
or  phrase  repeated  in  such  a  manner  as  to  form 
what  is  termed  an  echo.    Examples: — 

You  speak  like  a  boy, —  like  a  boy  who  thinks  the 
old,  gnarled  oak  can  be  twisted  as  easily  as  the 
young  sapling. 

Never  is  virtue  left  without  sympathy,—  sympathy 
dearer  and  tenderer  for  the  misfortune  that  has 
tried  it  and  proved  its  fidelity. 

Shall  I,  who  was  born,  I  might  almost  say,  but 
certainly  brought  up,  in  the  tent  of  my  father, 
that  most  excellent  general,—  shall  I,  the  con- 
queror of  Spain  and  Gaul,  and  not  only  of  the 
Alpine  nation,  but  of  the  Alps  themselves, — 
shall  I  compare  myself  with  this  half-year  cap- 
tain? 

Rule  IX. —  When  a  parenthetical  remark  is 
introduced  between  words  which  are  repeated  as 
in  the  last  example,  a  dash  is  placed  both  before 
and  after  the  marks  of  parenthesis.  Exam- 
ples:— 

"  When  I  am  old  —  (and,  oh,  how  soon 
Will  life's  sweet  morning  yield  to  noon!)  — 
When  I  am  old,  this  breezy  earth 
Will  lose  for  me  its  voice  of  mirth." 


THE  DASH. 


55 


Then  I  told  what  a  tall,  upright,  graceful  person 
their  great  grand-mother  Field  once  was,  and 
how  in  her  youth  she  was  esteemed  the  best  dan- 
cer —  (here  Alice's  little  right  foot  played  an 
involuntary  movement,  till,  upon  my  looking 
grave,  it  desisted)  —  the  best  dancer,  I  was  say- 
ing, in  the  country. 

Rule  X. —  When  a  series  of  rhetorical  (as  dis- 
tinct from  other  styles  of  composition)  phrases 
is  used  cumulatively  to  enforce  a  certain  con- 
clusion, a  dash  is  used  at  the  end  of  the  series 
and  immediately  before  the  conclusion  arrived 
at.    Examples: — 

That  patriotism  which,  catching  its  inspirations 
from  the  immortal  God,  and  leaving  at  an  im- 
measurable distance  below  all  lesser,  grovelling, 
personal  interests  and  feelings,  animates  and 
prompts  to  deeds  of  self-sacrifice,  of  valor,  of 
devotion,  and  of  death  itself  —  that  is  public 
virtue;  that  is  the  noblest,  the  sublimest,  of  all 
public  virtues. 

The  affections  which  spread  beyond  ourselves, 
and  stretch  far  into  futurity;  the  workings  of 
mighty  passions,  which  seem  to  arm  the  soul 
with  an  almost  superhuman  energy;  the  innocent 
and  irrepressible  joy  of  infancy;  the  bloom  and 
buoyancy  and  dazzling  hopes  of  youth;  the 
throbbings  of  the  heart  when  it  first  wakes  to 
love,  and  dreams  of  a  happiness  too  vast  for 
earth,—  these  are  all  poetical. 

Rule  XI. —  If  a  dramatic  effect  is  sought,  or 
arises  from  the  nature  of  the  composition,  a 


56         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


dash  is  used  immediately  before  the  dramatic 
passage.    Example : — 

Lord  Cardinal!  if  thou  think'st  on  heaven's 
bliss, 

Hold  up  thy  hand;  make  signal  of  that  hope.— 
He  dies,  and  makes  no  sign. 

Rule  XII. —  When  a  remark  which  is  explana- 
tory, or  an  intermediary  expression,  is  intro- 
duced in  a  sentence,  and  it  is  not  of  a  distinctly 
parenthetical  nature,  a  dash  is  used  before  and 
after  it.    Examples: — 

In  pure  description,—  such  as  is  not  warmed  by 
passion,  or  deepened  by  philosophical  reflection, 
—  Shelley  is  a  great  master. 

There  are  times  —  they  only  can  understand  who 
have  known  them  —  when  passion  is  dumb. 

It  was  under  the  influence  of  impulse  —  the  im- 
pulse of  nature  on  his  own  poetic  spirit  —  that 
Burns  went  forth  singing  in  glory  and  in  joy 
on  the  mountain  side. 

The  finest  displays  of  power, —  such  as  those  which 
delineate  Prometheus  blessing  mankind  and  de- 
fying the  thunder  of  Jove,  even  when  fastened 
to  the  barren  rock,  with  the  vulture  tugging  at 
his  heart,—  what  are  they  but  the  principles 
which  have  animated  men  who  have  struck  for 
freedom  ? 

Rule  XIII. —  When  such  words  as  namely, 
that  is,  etc.,  are  understood,  but  not  used,  the 
dash  may  take  their  place.    Examples: — 


THE  DASH; 


57 


The  four  greatest  names  in  English  poetry  are  al- 
most the  first  we  come  to  —  Chaucer,  Spencer, 
Shakespeare,  and  Milton. 

Kings  and  their  subjects,  masters  and  slaves,  find 
a  common  level  in  two  places  —  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross,  and  the  grave. 

Rule  XIV. —  The  dash  is  generally  used  after 
a  comma  when  addressing  a  person  in  a  business 
communication.    Example : — 

Dear  Sir,—  I  beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  yours 
of  the  5th  inst. 

Note. —  Printers  use  a  dash  after  a  title  form- 
ing a  note-head  to  a  paragraph,  before  the  name 
of  the  author  when  given  at  the  end  of  a  quo- 
tation or  paragraph,  between  questions  and  short 
answers  when  printed  in  the  same  paragraphs, 
and  in  other  instances;  but  as  its  use  in  these 
particulars  depends  largely  upon  what  is  known 
as  "the  style  of  the  house,"  it  is  not  thought 
necessary  to  go  into  further  detail  here. 


THE  APOSTROPHE. 


The  Apostrophe  [  7  ]  is  used  before  or  after 
an  s  when  the  word  indicates  possession  of  any- 
thing. It  is  also  used  in  place  of  letters  omitted 
from  a  word,  or  when  the  word  is  shortened. 

Rule  I. —  When  a  word  shows  that  something 
is  possessed  an  apostrophe  is  used  before  the 
terminating  letter  s  if  the  word  does  not  indi- 
cate more  than  one,  or  is  formed  by  altering  a 
letter  to  indicate  more  than  one,  and  after  the 
terminating  s  if  the  word  indicates  more  than 
one.  It  is  also  used  at  the  end  of  a  word  where, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  hissing  sound,  the  s  is 
omitted.    Examples : — 

John's  hat  blew  off.—  The  ox's  hide. 
A  friend  should  bear  a  friend's  infirmities. 
Tired  Nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep. 
0  majestic  Night,  Nature's  great  ancestor,  Day's 
elder  born ! 

On  eagle's  wings  he  seemed  to  soar. —  Our  ene- 
mies' resistance. 

The  four  poets'  verses  were  excellent  examples  of 
their  styles. 

The  soldiers'  chargers  were  well  groomed. 

Men's,  women's,  and  children's  voices  were  all 
mingled  together. 

The  people's  shouts  were  long  and  loud. 
59 


60         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


For  quietness'  sake  the  man  would  not  enter  into 

any  dispute. 
For  conscience'  sake  he  made  amends. 
It  was  counted  unto  him  for  righteousness'  sake. 

Rule  II. —  Names  of  people  which  end  in  es 
sounded  as  a  distinct  syllable  take  only  the 
apostrophe  after  them,  but  names  of  people  of 
one  or  two  syllables  and  ending  in  es  which  is 
not  pronounced  separately  take  both  the  apos- 
trophe after  the  es  and  a  terminating  s.  Ex- 
amples:— 

Hodges'  thoughts  were  deep.  Apelles'  portraits. 
Xerxes'  fleet.  Bridges'  "  Punctuation  Simpli- 
fied." 

St.  James's  Church.  Burns's  poems.  Jones's 
groceries.    St.  Thomas's  Hospital. 

Rule  III.— The  apostrophe  is  used  where  let- 
ters are  omitted  from  a  word,  or  when  a  word 
is  shortened.   Examples: — 

'Mid  such  a  heavenly  scene  as  this,  death  is  an 
empty  name. 

'Mongst  horrid  shapes,  and  shrieks,  and  sights  un- 
holy. 

Go  to,  I'll  no  more  of 't :  it  hath  made  me  mad. 

And  in  the  following  words:  I've  (I  have), 
'em  (them),  i'  the  (in  the),  o'er  (over),  don't 
(do  not),  'gainst  (against),  he's  (he  is),  ne'er 
(never),  thou'rt  (thou  art),  'tis  (it  is),  who'd 
(who  would),  you'll  (you  will). 


THE  APOSTROPHE. 


61 


Rule  IV. —  In  cases  like  the  following  the 
apostrophe  is  used  before  the  s.  Examples: — 

Mark  all  the  a's  and  o's  in  your  exercise. 
In  this  sum  there  are  four  2's  and  three  5's. 

Note. —  Sometimes  the  word  borough  is  con- 
tracted into  bro',  or  boro'  with  the  apostrophe  at 
the  end,  but  the  contraction  is  undesirable. 


THE  HYPHEN. 


The  Hyphen  [-]  is  used  both  to  join  and  di- 
vide words. 

Rule  I. —  When  a  prefix  ends,  and  the  word 
to  which  it  is  attached  begins,  with  a  vowel,  both 
vowels  being  separately  pronounced,  a  hyphen 
is  generally  used  to  join  them.    Examples: — 

A  man  of  pre-eminence  in  his  profession. 

Man  possesses  the  great  privilege  of  co-operating 

with  his  beneficent  Creator. 
Ben  Jonson,  the  great  dramatist,  was  co-eval  with 

Shakespeare. 

To-day,  to-night,  to-morrow,  are  invariably 
printed  with  a  hyphen.    Example: — 

Never  put  off  till  to-morrow  what  you  can  do 
to-day. 

Rule  II. —  When  two  words  are  used  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  make  them  practically  one,  a 
hyphen  joins  them.    Examples: — 

Better  be  trampled  in  the  dust  than  trample  on 

a  fellow-creature. 
He  spoke  no  warrior-word,  he  bade  no  trumpet 

blow. 

63 


64  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Imagination  is  the  truth-seeing  and  the  beauty- 
seeing  power. 

Rule  III. —  On  the  use  of  the  hyphen  in  com- 
pound words  the  author  has  obtained  permis- 
sion to  print  the  following  extract  from  the  ex- 
cellent "  Rules  for  Compositors  and  Readers 
employed  at  the  Clarendon  Press,  Oxford," 
compiled  by  Mr.  Horace  Hart,  Printer  to  the 
University  of  Oxford : — 

Such  compound  nouns,  and  similar  words  in  fa- 
miliar use  having  but  one  accent,  as  — 

Birdcage  Hourglass 

Blackbird  Mantelpiece 

Bricklayer  Nowadays 

Byway  Seaport 

Byword  Teapot 

Dressmaker  Watchcase 

Hairdresser  Wheelbarrow 
Handkerchief 

have  each  become  from  familiar  use  one  word, 
and  require  no  hyphen. 
Compound  words  of  more  than  one  accent,  as 
apple-tree,  cherry-pie,  gravel-walk,  etc.,  require 
the  hyphen;  as  well  as  those  which  follow:  — 

By-and-by  Never-ending 

By-law  One-and-twenty 

By-the-by  One-eighth 

Court-martial  Serio-comic 

Cousin-german  Starting-point 


THE  HYPHEN.  65 


Good-bye  Step-father 
Half-crown         Title-deeds,  etc. 
Half-dozen 

But  half  an  inch,  half  a  dozen,  etc.,  require  no 
hyphen. 

The  use  of  the  hyphen  in  the  above-quoted 
" Rules' '  is  sufficient  guide  to  its  application  to 
compound  words. 

Rule  IV. —  Descriptive  phrases  should  be 
joined  by  a  hyphen.    Examples: — 

Some   out-of-the-world   place;   a  matter-of-fact- 
looking  person;  long-looked-for  news. 

Rule  V. —  When  a  descriptive  word  or  phrase 
precedes  the  person  or  thing  described,  a  hyphen 
should  be  used,  but  not  when  it  follows  the  per- 
son or  thing  described.    Examples: — 

A  well-known  statesman.    The  statesman  was  well 
known. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact.    The  fact  is  well  known. 
A    nineteenth-century   invention.     The  invention 
was  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

But  when  the  descriptive  word  ends  in  "ly" 
the  hyphen  is  not  generally  used.    Examples: — 

A  newly  built  house.    That  lately  formed  engage- 
ment. 

Rule  VI. —  Preference  is  to  be  given  to  divid- 
ing words  at  such  parts  as  indicate  their  origin, 


66  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


particularly  on  the  vowel,  rather  than  at  the 
parts  indicating  their  pronunciation.  Affixes 
should  always  be  sharply  separated  from  the 
root  word  in  dividing.  In  printing  offices  it  is 
a  recognised  rule  that  unless  the  lines  are  very 
narrow,  words  are  not  divided  on  a  single-letter 
or  two-letter  syllable  at  the  commencement  or  a 
two-letter  syllable  at  the  end.    Examples: — 

Prophet,  an-ti-po-des,  ha-bit,  tri-bute,  re-ve-la- 
tion,  sing-ing,  con-fess-ing,  com-bat-ing,  de-part- 
ed, re-gard-ed,  bi-o-gra-pher. 


MARKS  OF  QUOTATION. 


Marks  of  Quotation  ["  "]  consist  of  two  in- 
verted commas  at  the  beginning,  and  two  apos- 
trophes at  the  end,  of  the  words  of  an  author  or 
speaker  quoted,  or  titles  of  books. 

Rule  I. —  When  actual  words  written  by 
another  person  are  introduced  into  one's  own 
composition,  such  words  are  placed  in  marks  of 
quotation;  but  if  another  author's  words  are 
adapted,  quotation  marks  are  unnecessary.  Ex- 
amples:— 

Socrates  said,  "  I  believe  that  the  soul  is  immor- 
tal."— Socrates  said  he  believed  in  the  immor- 
tality of  the  soul. 

After  Cicero,  the  literary  history  of  the  Romans 
is  written  in  one  line  of  Tacitus :  "  As  adulation 
increased,  great  minds  were  deterred."—  Great 
minds  were  deterred  as  adulation  increased,  ac- 
cording to  Tacitus. 
"  We  can  see  Nature  through  the  spectacles  of 
books,"  says  Dry  den.—  He  saw  Nature,  as  Dry- 
den  expresses  it,  through  the  spectacles  of  books. 

When  Fenelon's  library  was  on  fire,  "  God  be 
praised,"  said  he,  "  that  it  is  not  the  dwelling  of 
a  poor  man." 

In  newspaper  reporting,  however,  it  is  not 
usual  to  quote  speeches  even  when  the  actual 
words  of  the  speaker  are  given. 

67 


68         PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


Rule  II. —  When  quotations  are  made  without 
any  introductory  matter,  but  merely  with  the 
words  4 4 says  St.  Augustine/'  6 'he  said/'  etc., 
placed  after  the  first  appropriate  clause  in  the 
quotation,  marks  of  quotation  are  used  where 
the  words  quoted  begin  and  end,  and  again 
where  the  words  quoted  are  recommenced  and 
ended.    Examples:  — 

"  There  is  but  one  object/'  says  St.  Augustine, 
"  greater  than  the  soul ;  and  that  one  is  the  Cre- 
ator." 

u  Let  me  make  the  ballads  of  a  nation,"  said 
Fletcher  of  Saltoun,  "  and  I  care  not  who  makes 
its  laws." 

"  I  rise,"  he  said,  "  to  a  point  of  order." 

Rule  III. —  When  a  speaker  or  writer  repeats 
words  which  he  has  previously  spoken  or  writ- 
ten, such  words  should  be  placed  within  marks 
of  quotation.    Examples: — 

I  draw  attention  to  what  I  said  on  a  former  oc- 
casion, that  "  no  man  can  be  happy  who  is  des- 
titute of  good  feelings  and  generous  principles." 

What  I  am  now  saying  must  be  regarded  in  the 
light  of  my  previous  statement,  that  "  it  is  al- 
ways better  to  be  prepared  for  an  emergency 
likely  to  arise." 

Rule  IV. —  Where  the  title  of  a  book  is  re- 
ferred to  in  a  sentence,  such  title  is  quoted. 
Examples: — 


MARKS  OF  QUOTATION.  69 


You  should  read  Carlyle's  "  The  French  Revolu- 
tion." 

Ruskin,  in  his  "  Seven  Lamps  of  Architecture," 
says  that  there  is  a  marked  likeness  between 
the  virtue  of  man  and  the  enlightenment  of  the 
globe  he  inhabits. 

Johnson's  "  Lives  of  the  English  Poets "  may 
justly  be  considered  as  the  noblest  specimen  of 
elegant  and  solid  criticism  which  any  age  has 
produced. 

Rule  V. —  When  a  word  or  phrase  is  used  in 
a  manner  which  draws  special  attention  to  it, 
such  word  or  phrase  is  quoted.    Examples: — 

We  find  the  word  "  pharisaical "  very  useful  in 
our  modern  speech. 

I  am  not  sure  but  that  the  "  golden  age  "  of  man- 
ners is  to  begin  among  those  who  are  now  de- 

.  spaired  of  for  their  want  of  refinement. 

Rule  VI. —  When  a  quotation  occurs  within  a 
quotation,  single  marks  of  quotation  are  used 
for  the  inner  quotations.     Examples: — 

The  speaker  went  on :  "  It  is  well  for  us  always  to 
remember  that  ■  all  that  glitters  is  not  gold/  " 

Trench  well  says,  "  What  a  lesson  the  word  6  dili- 
gence '  contains.  The  only  secret  of  true  indus- 
try in  our  work  is  love  of  that  work." 

Apart  from  the  examples  given  above,  when 
several  complete  paragraphs  are  quoted,  marks 
of  quotation  commence  each  paragraph,  and  if 


70  PUNCTUATION  SIMPLIFIED. 


in  the  course  of  these  quoted  paragraphs  an  in- 
ner quotation  occurs  which  is  carried  on  to  the 
next  paragraph,  such  paragraph  commences 
with  both  double  and  single  marks  of  quotation. 


BRACKETS. 


Brackets  [  ]  are  used  to  enclose  words  or 
phrases  which  are  explanatory;  but  they  must 
not  be  confused  with  parentheses,  which  have  a 
wider  and  more  literary  purpose.  When  brack- 
ets are  used  in  quotations  it  is  not  necessary  to 
close  and  begin  again  the  marks  of  quotation  be- 
fore and  after  the  brackets. 

Rule  I. —  When  it  is  desired  to  show  what  a 
thing  is,  brackets  are  used  to  enclose  the  refer- 
ence. It  will  be  noticed  that  in  the  definitions 
of  the  various  points  treated  in  this  Manual, 
each  point  as  it  comes  is  enclosed  in  brackets. 
Examples: — 

"The  Comma  [,]  is,"  etc.;  "The  Semicolon  [ ;] 
is,"  etc.;  "The  Colon  [ :]  is,"  etc.  See  also 
their  use  in  "  Miscellaneous,"  below. 

Rule  II. —  When  words  or  phrases  are  inserted 
in  a  quotation  as  a  correction,  or  as  indicating 
an  accidental  omission  of  a  word,  the  words  so 
inserted  are  enclosed  within  brackets.  Exam- 
ples:— 

"  The  captain  had  several  men  died  [who  died] 
in  the  ship." 

"  Crotchets  [the  writer  means  marks  of  paren- 
thesis] are  used  to  enclose  a  sentence,  or  part 
of  a  sentence,"  etc. 

71 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


There  are  certain  characters  not  really  within 
the  scope  of  this  work,  but  which  may  be  indi- 
cated by  their  enumeration  as  follows: — 

The  Inverted  Comma  [ '  ] ,  in  such  words  as 
M' Donald;  Two  Commas  [„],  indicating  repe- 
tition of  words  in  the  line  above  them ;  the  Index 
or  hand  [^],  directing  special  attention; 
Three  Asterisks  [  *  *  *  ] ,  sometimes  used  the  same 
way  as  the  index ;  the  Caret  [  a  ] ,  used  in  manu- 
script and  on  proofs  to  show  the  omission  of  a 
letter  or  words ;  the  Brace  [  > — A — *  ] ,  to  join 
words  in  different  lines  all  applicable  to  one 

particular  ending;   marks   of   Ellipsis    [  , 

.    .         *    *    #] ,  indicating  omission  of  letters 

or  words ;  Leaders  [  ] ,  to  lead  the  eye  to 

the  end  of  a  line  in  indexes,  contents,  etc. ;  Six 
Accents  —  the  Acute  [ '  ] ,  the  Grave  [  v  ] ,  the 
Circumflex  [  A  ] ,  the  Long  [  ] ,  the  Breve  or 
Short  [  w  ] ,  and  the  Diaeresis  [  "  ]  —  to  indicate 
pronunciation,  inflection  of  the  voice,  and  for 
other  purposes  in  foreign  languages ;  the  Cedilla 
[  q  ] ,  when  it  has  the  sound  of  s  before  a  or  o  in 
words  taken  from  the  French;  the  Tilde  [  ~  ], 
placed  over  the  n  in  Spanish ;  and  Marks  of  Ref- 
erence —  the  Asterisk,  or  Star  [  *  ] ,  the  Dagger 
[  t  ] ,  the  Double  Dagger  [$],  the  Section  [  §  ] , 
Parallel  Lines  [  1 1  ] ,  and  the  Paragraph  [  f  ]  — 
used  in  the  order  here  given,  for  references  in 
the  text  and  in  foot-notes. 

73 


PRACTICAL  ADVICE  TO  AMATEUR  AUTHORS. 


The  following  advice  to  amateur  authors  is 
taken,  by  kind  permission  of  the  Editor,  from  a 
very  practical  article  in  that  most  interesting 
journal,  T.P.'s  Weekly: — 

In  amateur  writing,  as  in  amateur  farming,  it  is 
the  market  that  ultimately  counts.  The  bringing  of 
pigs  to  market  always  was,  and  always  will  be,  a 
matter  of  personal  shrewdness  and  adaptability  — 
qualities  which  cannot  be  imparted.  What  can  be 
imparted  is  a  correct  idea  of  the  position  of  the  out- 
side contributor.  This,  I  think,  is  widely  misunder- 
stood. In  the  nature  of  the  case  he  is  at  a  great 
disadvantage.  No  editor  can  run  a  paper  on  the 
chances  of  his  letter-box.  (Nor  without  them.)  He 
must  have  a  staff,  whether  inside  or  outside  the 
office.  The  ship  must  be  worked  by  a  crew.  Thus, 
only  certain  portions  or  elements  of  a  journal  can 
be  thrown  open  to  unsolicited  offerings.  But  be- 
cause they  are  thrown  open  they  are  not  therefore 
closed  to  nearer  and  more  practiced  pens.  Nor  can 
an  editor  limit  his  initiative  in  procuring  articles  by 
direct  commission.  These  facts,  and  others  like  them, 
make  the  barrier  between  the  contributor  and  print. 
They  cannot  be  helped.  The  outside  contributor  may 
devote  hours  to  an  article,  ignorant  of  the  fact 
that  the  editor  has  already  commissioned  one  on  the 
same  subject.  Many  contributors  appear  to  think 
that  acceptance  or  rejection  depends  solely  upon 
75 


76     ADVICE  TO  AMATEUR  AUTHORS. 


literary  merit.  This  is  not  the  case.  An  editor  is 
constantly  returning  a  better-written  article  than 
the  one  he  accepts.  He  is  not  in  the  position  of  a 
judge  awarding  a  prize,  but  is  in  that  of  a  merchant 
procuring  certain  wares  which  he  proposes  to  sell 
to  regular  customers,  whose  tastes  and  limitations  he 
knows.  An  article,  therefore,  may  be  rejected  for 
many  reasons  which  the  contributor  cannot  easily  dis- 
cover.   Here  are  a  few: 

1.  It  is  too  good  —  that  is  to  say,  its  thought  and 
style  would  go  over  the  heads  of  the  readers. 

2.  Though  excellent,  it  is  not  in  harmony  with  the 
usual  contents  of  the  paper.  Thousands  of  MSS.  are 
returned  for  this  reason. 

3.  Though  suitable  in  subject  and  correct  in  style,  it 
lacks  readability. 

4.  It  is  too  long,  and  not  good  enough  to  be  worth 
cutting.  A  great  many  Contributors  never  ask  them- 
selves what  is  the  probable  space  which  an  editor  can 
afford,  though  the  paper  itself  provides  easy  indications. 

5.  The  article  is  returned  simply  because  one  on  the 
same  subject  is  at  hand. 

6.  The  contributor  has  failed  to  notice  that  the  sub- 
ject has  been  treated  —  very  possibly  in  an  inferior 
way. 

7.  The  article,  though  excellent,  would  cause  some 
special  embarrassment. 

Such  an  array  of  obstacles  may  seem  appalling, 
but  it  is  precisely  by  realizing  them  that  the  con- 
tributor can  hope  to  find  that  "  way  of  acceptance  n 
which  he  desires.  The  contributor  should  take  him- 
self less  seriously  and  his  editor  more  seriously. 
Generally  speaking,  the  attack  on  a  paper  should 
begin  with  very  short  contributions.  The  paragraph 
is  the  unit  of  journalism,  and  the  beginner's  best 
introduction.    Thousands    of    disappointed  writers 


ADVICE  TO  AMATEUR  AUTHORS.  77 


would  have  seen  themselves  in  print  long  ago  if  they 
had  written  paragraphs  about  common  things,  in- 
stead of  beating  out  long  articles  on  hackneyed  sub- 
jects, or  soaring  into  self-expression.  The  character 
and  architecture  of  a  paper  cannot  be  too  carefully 
studied.  When  a  good  idea  occurs,  which  will  de- 
mand time  and  labor  in  the  working  out,  it  is  well 
to  write  to  the  editor,  shortly  explaining  the  pro- 
posed article,  and  offering  to  send  it  on  approval. 
A  final  word  of  consolation :  hardly  any  journal  can 
maintain  its  interest  without  the  help  of  the  chance 
contribution.  This  is  a  maxim.  The  way  may  be 
barred  —  it  cannot  be  otherwise  —  to  the  unsolicited 
contribution  which  has  no  compelling  merit.  But  the 
right  contribution  —  come  from  whom  it  may  —goes 
to  the  printer  by  special  messenger. 


TYPOGRAPHICAL  MARKS  EXEMPLIFIED* 

sance;  very  tioble  ia  ija  simplicity,  in  its  73//.^ 
My  proportions,  and  in  its  masonry/  jlote  espe-    'oJ{l  x 
.  / ^  cially  the       grand  way  in  which  the  oblique  6.  ,f  g 

J.  «     Arphatrvnpft  rpst  —       -   j —  rtf  f|,ft  KriHr«*  jd&f*/ 


/  so  as  to  give  more  lightness  and  grace  to  the 
1"  t  Pj  arc^ — the  dove,  flying  towards  the  Madonna, 
^**y  forming  the  keystone, — and  thus  the  whole  #j»  / 
action  of  the  figures  being  parallel  to  the  ,  Xd^ 
f3     curve  of  the  arch,  while  all  the  masonry  is "  .  a 
of  at  rigQit  angles  to  it.    Note,  finally,  one  cir-  *j 
I    cumstance  which  gives  peculiar  nrmness  to  the 
15  figure  of  the  angel,  andi  associates  itself  with 
the  genei|J§J  expression  if  strength  in  the 
whole  building;   namelyf  that  the  sole  of 
the  a/vanced  foot  is  set  perfectly  levels  as 
if  placed  on  the  ground;  instead  of  being^aT" 
in  most  modern  figures  of  this  kind.  ^hfi-.  i^uofl 
sculptures  themselves  are  not  good;  but  these*    %\  1 
pieces  of  feeling  in  them  are  very  admirable.^  Aaw  o**/ 
cThe  two  ngures  on  the  otner  side,  St.  / 
Mark  and  St.  Theodore,  are  inferior,  though.     %%  j 
xif  all  by  the  same  sculptor,  Girolamo  Campagna.  4***  <y 


a  q/^WaT^^  bridge  was  built  by  Antonio  da  Yonte/tf?/ 

I  J  in  1588.  It  was  anciently  of  wood,  with  a  / 21/ 
2(0^//   drawbridge  iij^he  centre,,  a  representation  of'  *y 


Explanations. —  1.  The  letter  "  t  "  is  upside  down.  2.  The 
letter  "  i "  is  omitted.  3.  Substitute  a  full-point  for  comma, 
and  begin  a  fresh  sentence.  4.  The  word  "  the "  to  be  de- 
leted. 5.  Space  standing  up,  showing  black  mark  between 
words.  6.  Reader  has  crossed  out  word  accidentally.  Wishing 
it  retained,  he  places  the  Latin  word  "  stet  "  (let  it  stand)  in 
margin,  at  the  same  time  placing  dots  under  the  word.  7,  15. 
trs.  means  transpose  the  two  words  or  letters.  8.  Three  lines 
under  a  letter  or  word  indicate  that  it  should  be  in  capitals, 
two  lines  mean  small  capitals,  and  one  line  italics  (or  if  already 
in  italics,  roman).  9.  1.  c-  (lower  case  of  type — containing 
small  letters,  in  distinction  from  the  upper  case,  having  only 
capitals,  etc)  means  here  that  a  small  letter  is  to  be  used  in- 
stead of  the  small  capital.  lO.  Corner  of  line  has  slipped. 
11.  Underlined  for  italics.  12.  A  space  (technically  a 
"  lead ")    omitted  between   the  lines.    13.  The  letters   in  the 

78 


PAGE  AFTER  MAKING  CORRECTIONS  MARKED. 


sance;  very  noble  in  its  simplicity,  in  its 
proportions,  and  in  its  masonry.  Note  espe- 
cially the  grand  way  in  which  the  oblique 
archstones  rest  on  the  butments  of  the  bridge, 
safe,  palpably  both  to  the  sense  and  eye;  note 
also  the  sculpture  of  the  Annunciation  on  the 
southern  side  of  it;  how  beautifully  arranged, 
so  as  to  give  more  lightness  and  grace  to  the 
arch — the  dove,  flying  towards  the  Madonna, 
forming  the  keystone, — and  thus  the  whole 
action  of  the  figures  being  parallel  to  the 
curve  of  the  arch,  while  all  the  masonry  is 
at  right  angles  to  it.  Note,  finally,  one  cir- 
cumstance which  gives  peculiar  firmness  to 
the  figure  of  the  angel,  and  associates  itself 
with  the  general  expression  of  strength  in 
the  whole  building;  namely,  that  the  sole 
of  the  advanced  foot  is  set  perfectly  level, 
as  if  placed  on  the  ground,  instead  of  being 
thrown  back  behind  like  a  heron's,  as  in  most 
modern  figures  of  this  kind. 

The  sculptures  themselves  are  not  good; 
but  these  pieces  of  feeling  in  them  are  very 
admirable.  The  two  figures  on  the  other  side, 
St.  Mark  and  St.  Theodore,  are  inferior, 
though  all  by  the  same  sculptor,  Girolamo 
Campagna. 

The  bridge  was  built  by  Antonio  da  Ponte, 
in  1588.    It  was  anciently  of  wood,  with  a 
drawbridge  in  the  centre,  a  representation  of 
From  "  EazelVs  Annual." 

word  are  too  far  apart,  and  should  be  closed  up.  14.  A  bad 
letter.  16.  The  letter  is  face  downwards.  17.  w.f.  (wrong 
fount)  indicates  that  the  letter  marked  belongs  to  another  fount 
of  type.  18.  Underlined  for  roman.  19.  An  omission;  a 
caret  (A)  is  marked  in  the  place,  and  the  words  written  in 
margin.  20.  Commence  a  new  paragraph.  21.  The  paragraph 
should  not  have  been  broken  here,  but  should  run  on  as  a  mere 
sentence.  22.  Underlined  for  small  capitals.  23.  Should  be 
indented  to  show  beginning  of  new  paragraph.  24.  Lower-case 
letters  to  be  substituted  for  the  small  capitals.  25.  A  comma 
instead  of  a  full-point  is  required.  26.  A  space  to  be  put  in 
between  the  two  words  to  separate  them.  27.  The  letter  "n" 
omitted.  A  wrong  letter  (technically  a  "  literal  ")  should  be 
marked  through  and  the  correct  one  written  in  the  margin. 

79 


BOOK  TYPE  FACES. 


THE  complete  set  of  types  in  any  quantity  is  called  a 
font.    The  size  by  which  a  type  is  known  is  deter- 
mined by  the  vertical  measurement  of  the  piece  of 
metal  on  which  it  is  cast.    The  following  show  the  usual 
sizes  used  in  books  : 


point— 
6    point — 
point — 
point- 


point — 
point- 
point— 
point- 
point— 


18  point- 


Does  not  this  Mivine  art'  which  has  enlightened  the  world 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  which  has  enlightened  th 
Does  not  this  *  divine  art  *  which  has  enlightened  t 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  which  has  enlight 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  which  has  enligh 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  which  has  e 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  which  has 
Does  not  this  'divine  art'  whic 
Does  not  this  'divine  art' 

Does  not  this  'divine  a 


Approximately,  a  point  is  of  an  inch.  Six  point 
type  is  therefore  type  cast  on  a  body  -?\  or  XV  of  an  inch 
high  ;  eight  point  type  is  type  cast  on  a  body  f2  or  \  of  an 
inch  high,  etc. 

Twelve  point  type,  formerly  called  pica,  is  univer- 
sally regarded  as  the  standard  type.  Six  pica  ems  laid 
sideways,  thus,  S  S  S  S  S  S  1  are  equal  to  an  inch, 
and  seventy-two  of  them  to  one  foot. 

81 


r1  is  often  a  matter  of  great  perplexity  to  an  author  or 
publisher  to  know  in  what  type  he  shall  print  a  certain 
work  Although  the  choice  is  arbitrary  and  depends 
upon  many  surrounding  circumstances,  such  as  the  nature 
of  the  work  or  the  intended  bulk  of  the  book,  custom  has 
relegated  certain  sizes  of  type  to  a  certain  size  of  page. 
The  following  table  will  therefore  be  found  useful,  giving, 
as  it  does,  the  technical  names  of  the  paper  and  its  sec- 
tions when  folded  into  recognized  sizes;  and  also  the 
generally  accepted  widths  and  lengths  of  the  type  of 
pages  suitable  for  such  sizes  of  type,  and  suggestions  for 
the  particular  size  of  type  which  may  be  used,  and  which 
are  generally  adopted: 


Size  of 
Type  Most 
Suitable 

12, 11, 10  point 
j-10,  9,  8  point 

8,  7,  6  point 

12. 11. 10  point 
111,  10,  9  point 

9,  8,  7  point 

14. 12. 11  point 

12. 11. 10  point 
11, 10,  9  point 

9,  8,  7  point 

8,  7,  6  point 

14. 12. 11  point 
12,  11, 10  point 
11, 10,  9  point 

10,  9,  8  point 

9,  8,  7  point 

Size  of 
Page  of  Type 
in  Pica  ems 

Width 

OOOlOlD                   rH  CO  CO             (N^SSOIM             00       ~H  rH 
MHHH               MNHH              ^CNrHCNr-l              Tt*  (N  !M  H 

bo 
a 
<v 
►4 

HN00O5             OOCOCOCO            -fNCDCOH  ^OOOOl^ 
CO  (M  i-H            tMDOCOCN           iO^COOKN           CO  tJ< -<f  <N  <N 

Size  of 
Paper  of 

Page 
in  inches 

^           ^^^^^           ^  ^ 
00  CO  lO  rt<        OOh®iO       £j  rH  00  l>  O  g^OOOCOO 

HHMNK       HHHHH      MMMMMM      M  M  X  K  K  H 

CO  CO      CO  CO        lO      lO  CO  CO       t»  00  iO  Tt<      (M       O  O  CO  lO  iO  CO 

Names  of  Papers 
and  their  divisions 
for  Book  Printing 

Foolscap— 

Full  sheet  

Quarto  (4to)  .... 

Octavo  (8vo)  .... 

Duodecimo  (12mo).  . 

Sixteenmo  (16mo)  .  . 
Crown— 

Full  sheet  

Quarto  (4to)  .... 

Octavo  (8vo)  .... 

Duodecimo  (12mo).  . 

Sixteenmo  (16mo)  .  . 

Full  sheet  

Quarto  (4to)  .... 

Octavo  (8vo)  .... 

Duodecimo  (12mo).  . 

Sixteenmo  (16mo)  .  . 

Thirty-twomo  (32mo) 
Royal — 

Full  sheet  

Quarto  (4to)  .... 

Octavo  (8vo)  .... 
*  Duodecimo  (12moJ.  . 

Sixteenmo  (16mo).  . 

Thirty-twomo  (32mo) 

With  the  aid  of  the  above  table,  and  by  bearing  in 
mind  that  a  pica  em  is  one-sixth  of  an  inch,  any  person, 
with  an  ordinary  measuring  rule,  can  fix  the  length  and 
width  of  his  page — which,  notwithstanding  the  measure- 
ments given  above,  is  within  certain  limits  quite  arbitrary, 
as  is  also,  indeed,  the  size  of  type  which  may  be  used. 

82 


